Changes made for patients attending Whiston Hospital A&E

People attending the A&E are to see changes in the way they are cared for if their condition is not serious or life-threatening in a bid to reduce waiting times for patients.

The Trust stressed that any patient attending A&E who is in need of emergency treatment will receive it.

However, anyone attending whose care is not an emergency will now be directed to an alternative service in the community considered more appropriate for their care. This will potentially enable them to be treated faster and closer to home, the Trust says.

This could be to an appropriate service such as an Urgent Treatment Centre, Walk-in Centre, a local GP or a local pharmacy.

The Trust adds that, as is the case nationally, the A&E at Whiston Hospital has seen an increase in patients arriving compared to before the COVID-19 pandemic.

In the last six months alone, the department has seen in excess of 4,000 more patients than usual, marking an increase of more than seven per cent compared to pre-Covid levels. Many of those attendances were not emergencies.

Building on the national NHS 111 First campaign which was launched in December 2020, the initiative aims to ensure patients are seen in the right healthcare setting at the right time.

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The Trust says one of the major benefits of this is expected to be a "significantly improved patient experience". It adds that, "crucially, it is expected to reduce long unnecessary waits in A&E, with patients directed to a more appropriate place for their care as those in urgent need of care are prioritised for treatment in the Emergency Department".

This will also enable emergency care teams to focus on patients who attend with an emergency.

The Trust adds another significant benefit of the scheme is how it will ensure social distancing is maintained in the A&E waiting area, keeping patients and staff safer from the spread of COVID-19 and other infections.

Whiston Hospital

Rob Cooper, director of operations, said: “As with all other hospitals across the country, we have experienced a significant increase in demand for services. Whiston Hospital’s A&E remains the busiest across Cheshire and Merseyside, and patient safety is always our priority.

"We must ensure that we continue to provide the highest possible standard of care to those coming to our hospital and so it is vital that we prioritise those attending for emergency treatment.

"There are a range of high-quality healthcare services available across St Helens, Knowsley, Halton and Liverpool, and while we understand that people are anxious to be seen quickly, we need to keep A&E free for those with serious or life-threatening conditions.

"It is often the case that people attending with less serious conditions could be seen considerably more quickly elsewhere."

He added: "Where people need to access NHS services, but their need is not an emergency we would urge people to call 111 or use the online service in the first instance and allow the experienced call-handlers to direct them to the best service for their care.

"People can be absolutely assured that if they have an emergency, we are open and are here to care for them. In an emergency, people should always still call 999.”

People with an urgent but non-life-threatening medical need are urged to visit 111.nhs.uk or call 111 in the first instance. They can also visit a GP, a local Walk-in Centre, or a pharmacist. There is also lots of advice available for self-care on NHS website nhs.uk.