Hospital trust issues plea amid rise in people visiting emergency departments in Wakefield

People in Wakefield have been asked to ensure they are seeking medical treatment in the right place, after a sharp rise in attending A&E unnecessarily.
People in Wakefield have been asked to ensure they are seeking medical treatment in the right place, after a sharp rise in attending A&E unnecessarily.People in Wakefield have been asked to ensure they are seeking medical treatment in the right place, after a sharp rise in attending A&E unnecessarily.
People in Wakefield have been asked to ensure they are seeking medical treatment in the right place, after a sharp rise in attending A&E unnecessarily.

The Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust, which runs Pinderfields, Pontefract and Dewsbury hospitals, said they had seen an increasing number of people seeking emergency treatment who could be more effectively treated elsewhere.

They are now urging people to "help us to help you" by ensuring they are seeking treatment from the appropriate place before attending A&E or similar.

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The emergency departments at Pinderfields and Dewsbury hospitals are for "serious and potentially life-threatening conditions" only, and many other conditions, including suspected broken bones, minor head injuries and burns and abdominal pain, can be treated at Pontefract's Urgent Treatment Centre.

Trudie Davies, Chief Operating Officer at The Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust, said: “The Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust’s Emergency Departments at Pinderfields Hospital and Dewsbury and District Hospital have been extremely busy recently.

“Whilst there are people who absolutely need the care and expertise of an emergency medicine doctor, there has been a rise in the number of people visiting our ED’s who could be treated more quickly elsewhere.

"It is more important than ever in these Covid times that we do all we can to use our NHS wisely and keep everyone safe. So can we ask the public to please help us to help you.

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“Our Emergency Departments are open for the treatment of serious and potentially life threatening conditions.

“If you need urgent, but not emergency or life-threatening medical help, call 111 for advice. NHS 111 will make sure you get the right urgent treatment in the right place.

“You can also seek help and advice from a number of other places such as: your GP, NHS 111 online, your local pharmacist, your dentist, local NHS walk-in centres or the Urgent Treatment Centre at Pontefract Hospital.”

Further advice on seeking treatment can be seen on the Mid Yorks website here.