The Royal United Hospital is urging people unfortunate enough to fall ill or suffer an injury over the festive period to consider alternatives to attending the Emergency Department if their condition is not an emergency.
The hospital’s Emergency Department operates a 24-hour, seven day a week walk-in service for people with urgent and life-threatening injuries and illnesses.
Patients are assessed on arrival and those requiring immediate urgent treatment will be given priority over others.
Mandy Rumble, Matron, Emergency Department, says: “We are expecting to be increasingly busy over the Christmas and New Year period and would urge anyone who has an illness or injury which is not an emergency to consider the alternatives available to them.
“These include contacting NHS Direct on 0845 46 47 or at www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk, visiting their pharmacy, visiting their GP surgery or contacting the GP out-of-hours service, or visiting a walk-in centre or minor injuries clinic.
“If anyone considers that they have a serious or life-threatening condition they should of course dial 999 or come to the Emergency Department immediately.“
