8:00am Wednesday 28th July 2010
By Paul Ferguson
PEOPLE with non-serious injuries have caused a record level of accident and emergency admissions at Hereford County Hospital.
Health officials have now launched a campaign to reduce unnecessary A&E admissions.
Nearly 90,000 people passed through the ward between April 2008 and March 2010 – nearly double the previous figure.
But nearly 10 per cent of patients could have been treated elsewhere and are putting a £2.3 million strain on local health services.
Figures at NHS Herefordshire and Hereford Hospitals NHS Trust are now urging people to “think twice” about visiting A&E.
They insist that many patients could be better treated elsewhere, either through GPs, pharmacies or Minor Injury Units. People can also drop into their nearest GP walk-in centre, call NHS Direct on 0845 4647 or visit nhs.uk.
The Herefordshire campaign follows a Nuffield Trust study that reports a national increase in emergency admissions.
Martin Woodford, chief executive of Hereford Hospitals NHS Trust, said the A&E department was under enormous pressure.
“If we can reduce the number of people visiting A&E who do not need to, we will be better placed to concentrate on those patients who are in need of our care,” said Mr Woodford.
Sue Doheny, of NHS Herefordshire, said many ailments could be treated more quickly, easily and cheaper elsewhere. Leominster, Rosson- Wye and Ledbury all have 24-hour Minor Injury Units, while Kington’s is open from 8am to 8pm.
She added that a report into the popularity of A&E would be commissioned in the coming weeks.
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