Doctors in north east London are reminding people that choosing the right place for medical help over the Christmas holidays can help them get the treatment they need faster.
More than 242,000 people attended A&E in north east London between last December and February this year – with average daily attendances exceeding 2,600 – and local hospital emergency departments are expected to be extremely busy again this winter.
Patients can seek urgent help and advice 24/7 from NHS 111 and will often be seen quicker by visiting their local pharmacy or a GP, even during the holiday season.
Those who need to see a GP in Barking and Dagenham, City of London, Hackney, Havering, Newham, Redbridge, Tower Hamlets and Waltham Forest have several options:
• Around a million GP appointments are available at GP surgeries across NEL every month on weekdays between 8am and 6.30pm and nearly two-thirds of these are provided on the same day or next day after booking. If you need to speak to your GP, you can book an appointment on your surgery’s website or phone them.
• Urgent GP appointments are also provided on weekday evenings and at weekends. These are available across north east London throughout the festive season, including on all three bank holidays – Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day. If your surgery is closed, you can book these appointments by calling NHS 111.
• If you live in Barking and Dagenham or Havering, you can also get help with minor injuries and illnesses at the community urgent treatment centres (UTCs) at Barking Community Hospital and Harold Wood Polyclinic from 8am to 10pm, seven days a week. You can call NHS 111 to book an appointment or walk in and wait to be seen.
• If you need urgent mental health support yourself or for a loved one, contact your local mental health crisis line. These are open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and the numbers to call in each borough are available on the NHS North East London website.
People are also being reminded to make sure they have enough medication to last them over the Christmas holidays and to pick up their repeat prescriptions in good time. Most minor health conditions, including colds and flu, can be safely treated at home.
If you need help, you can speak to a pharmacist. Pharmacists are qualified healthcare professionals who can offer advice and over-the-counter medicines for many minor illnesses – including coughs, sore throats, sinus issues, shingles and urinary tract infections.
Pharmacists can also supply prescription medication, including antibiotics and antivirals, for seven different conditions without you needing to see a GP, and will direct you to a doctor or another NHS service if necessary. Many pharmacies open late and at weekends – including bank holidays – and you don’t need an appointment. You can find an open, late-night pharmacy on the NHS website here.
Dr Jagan John, a local GP and board member at NHS North East London, said:
“We understand illnesses don’t stop for the holidays, and that sometimes you or a family member may need an appointment with a GP or nurse outside normal working hours.
“This year we’re once again offering flexible appointments in the evenings, at weekends and on bank holidays, including Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day, so you can get the help you need when you need it wherever you live.
“Our local hospital emergency departments are extremely busy so you will often get quicker, more appropriate help from your GP, a local pharmacist or through NHS 111.
“Ordering your repeat prescriptions well in advance will ensure you are well prepared for the four-day Christmas bank holiday weekend. If you have elderly relatives or neighbours, you can assist them by asking if they need help collecting their medications.”
Dr Claire Charley, Consultant in Emergency Medicine, Homerton Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, said:
“As we head into winter, emergency departments in north east London remain extremely busy. Our teams continue to work hard to ensure patients are treated as quickly as possible but wait times can be long.
“In most cases people waiting in emergency departments could be seen and treated quicker elsewhere such as their GP, a local pharmacist, or visiting an urgent treatment centre. If you are unsure of who you should talk to, NHS 111 can always advise.
“In times of medical emergency such as a stroke or heart attack, please always call 999.”
If you have an urgent but not life-threatening medical need, make sure you contact NHS 111 first, rather than going straight to A&E.
NHS 111 is available 24/7 online, via the NHS App or by calling 111. They can book you an appointment at an urgent treatment centre UTC, emergency dental service, or with a GP, and can even book you an appointment at A&E if necessary.
For more information on the best route to urgent care this Christmas, including advice on what to do if your child is unwell, visit https://northeastlondon.icb.nhs.uk/urgentcare.
