- Emergency Departments feeling significant strain
- There to address life-threatening emergencies
- Leaflets set out expectations around waits and capacity
A VERY high degree of busyness is currently being seen within the region’s health and social care system as we enter winter months.
All departments are operating under an extremely high degree of pressure, particularly those who manage unscheduled care.
Dr Pete Armstrong is a Consultant in the Emergency Department at Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary, and he said: “We’ve been incredibly busy right across this year, but we’re really starting to see that increase now as we enter winter.
“In one average day at DGRI we might be seeing 130 people arrive at the Emergency Department – which is a really high number, and sees us operating beyond capacity in order to meet that need.
“In these circumstances, we really need everyone to understand what that means – in terms of what is exactly that the ED can help with, the length of time people may need to wait, and how we all might need to adapt in order to meet this very high volume and complexity of need.”
Adverts have been appearing on social media reminding everyone that the Emergency Department is for life-threatening emergencies only.
For everything else, people are recommended to visit the NHS Inform website, contact NHS24 on 111, or to contact their local pharmacy or medical practice.
Meanwhile, visitors to the Emergency Departments at DGRI and at Galloway Community Hospital are being issued with leaflets setting out the reality of the situation.
This includes noting that visitors to ED may be faced with lengthy waits, or directed to an alternate source of help if they are not an emergency. It may mean having to spend time in non-clinical areas such as waiting areas or corridors, or potentially sharing patient rooms with another patient.
Dr Armstrong said: “Hopefully the public messaging, on social media and with these leaflets, gives people an understanding of the challenge faced, and how we might need to adapt in order to meet this challenge.
“We’re seeing this sort of pressure right across the country, and there’s no question we will need to be flexible in order to make it through what looks set to be an extremely challenging winter.”
Meanwhile, work is also taking place in main hospital wards to ensure that everyone who is medically ready to leave is promptly discharged home or to a homely environment.
As part of that, patients and their families are being asked to ensure that they are ready to leave hospital as soon as those arrangements are in place, so that medical staff are able to provide attention to those who now need their help and support.
The leaflets also advise that if the only issue preventing someone from leaving hospital is medication then this may be provided following discharge. They also highlight the Discharge to Assess initiative, through which some patients will receive an assessment at home within 72 hours to gauge any care needs.
