Peterborough City Hospital warns public NOT to visit emergency department except if absolutely necessary- here are SEVEN places to visit instead

Peterborough City Hospital has asked patients to think very carefully about whether or not they need to visit its emergency department.

The hospital has said that the department is “very busy” and that patients should use other urgent care services to meet their needs.

A spokesperson for Peterborough City Hospital said: “The NHS is here for everyone. Whatever your healthcare needs, we want to make sure you receive the right care, in the right place, at the right time.

"You can help ease the pressure by choosing the right service for you when you need medical help or advice. Not only will this help you get treatment you need faster, but help us ensure we can prioritise healthcare for those most in need.”

NHS 111- online or by phone 24/7

If you have an urgent medical problem and you’re not sure what to do, NHS 111 can help.

You can contact the NHS 111 service online at www.111.nhs.uk or you can call 111 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Your symptoms will be assessed, and you will be provided with healthcare advice.

If needed NHS 111 can also send an ambulance or where available can also book appointment times to some services.

Pharmacy

Your local pharmacy can help You by giving you advice about common illnesses as well as medications, and by providing appropriate over-the-counter treatments.

Many local pharmacies are also taking part in Pharmacy First, a national initiative that allows your local pharmacist to provide you with treatment for some common conditions without you needing to get a prescription from your GP practice first. These conditions include earache, impetigo, and urinary tract infections (UTIs) for women aged 16-64.

You can find out more about Pharmacy First via How pharmacies can help - NHS (www.nhs.uk).

Minor Injury Units (MIU) and Urgent Treatment Centres (UTC)

There are a number of Minor Injury Units (MIU) and Urgent Treatment Centres (UTC) locally that can treat a range of minor illnesses and injuries.

Conditions that can be treated at Minor Injury Units and Urgent Care Centres include: wounds, cuts and bruises (Tetanus immunisation can also be given), bites – human, insect and animal, minor burns and scalds, muscle and joint injuries – strains, sprains, limb fractures, sports injuries, eye problems e.g. removal of foreign bodies, conjunctivitis, earache (patients aged two years and over), cystitis (not children or male patients), minor head injuries (with no loss of consciousness) and X-ray services (see specific service for times available).

Peterborough’s UTC is located at the city hospital sire and open Mon – Sun: 8am – 8pm. Including Christmas Day and other Bank Holidays.

GP Services

Your GP practice will ensure you get the right care from the right healthcare professional at the right time.

You can contact most GP practices online as well as by phone. Visit your practice’s website to find the best way to get in touch.

Your GP practice team is made up of a range of healthcare professionals with the expertise to help treat a range of conditions. You might not always need to see a GP, your practice team has a range of trained healthcare professionals who can diagnose and treat a range of conditions, helping you to get advice or treatment sooner.

These professionals include: Reception team, Practice nurses, Pharmacists, Physiotherapists, Healthcare assistants and Social Prescribing Link Workers.

Mental health services and support

The main provider of NHS mental health care in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough is the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust

If you are experiencing a mental health crisis and need help, call NHS 111 and select the mental health option. Specially-trained mental health staff will speak to you and discuss your mental health care needs – instead of having to go to accident and emergency departments in local acute hospitals. This service is available 24/7, 365 days of the year.

Dental

If you need urgent treatment, please contact your usual dental practice, as they may be able to see you or direct you to an urgent dental care service. You can also phone NHS 111 which can put you in touch with an urgent dental service. Do not contact a GP, as they will not be able to offer urgent or emergency dental care.

Minor Eye Conditions Service (MECS)

The Minor Eye Conditions Service (MECS) treats non-emergency conditions which do not necessarily need to be examined at a hospital, in convenient locations for local people. The service is provided by specially trained optometrists. To access MECS you can contact the participating optometry practice you’d like to be seen at. The practice will offer you their earliest MEC appointment, which will be within a week of you contacting them. If they do not have an appointment available within a week, they will refer you to another practice.

Conditions that can be seen by MECS include acute red eyes, acute irritated or inflamed eyes, sticky discharge or acute watery eyes, in-grown eyelashes, foreign bodies in the eye (urgent conditions will be redirected to A&E) and recently occurring flashes or floaters.