Help ease pressure on busy A&E departments (From Sutton Guardian)

Epsom and St Helier staff advise on how ease pressure on busy A&E departments

11:10am Friday 30th November 2012 in News By Sophia Sleigh, Reporter

As hospitals become much busier this time of year staff are urging people to ‘choose well’ and help ease the pressure on accident and emergency departments.

Doctors and nurses at Epsom, Sutton and St Helier hospitals are backing the NHS’ Choose Well campaign, which helps people to find the right NHS service they need as quickly as possible.

More than 143,300 patients went to the trust’s A&E departments and urgent care centre last year - which is more than 390 patients per day or one person every four minutes.

Alternatives to visiting A&E include visiting your pharmacy, making an appointment with your GP, visiting an NHS walk in clinic or contacting NHS Direct on 0845 4647 or nhs.uk.