NHS services face sustained pressure across Nottingham and Nottinghamshire

Residents across Nottingham and Nottinghamshire are being urged to choose the most appropriate NHS service as urgent and emergency care services face significant pressure.

Accident & Emergency departments are seeing very high attendances and long waiting times. Services are also managing high levels of ambulance arrivals and increased demand linked to factors such as recent hot weather, which has particularly affected older and more vulnerable people.

Hospitals are taking additional steps to maintain safe care, including reopening winter ward capacity. Urgent Treatment Centres and ambulance services are also experiencing sustained demand, with staff working hard to prioritise the most seriously ill patients.

Gemma Whysall, Director of Commissioning at NHS Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Integrated Care Board, said: “People should continue to come forward for care if they need it but the current level of demand means our urgent and emergency care services are under exceptional strain, and waits are longer than usual.

“There are a wide range of alternative NHS services available and NHS 111 can help direct you to the most appropriate service for your needs.

“There are more ways than ever before to contact your GP practice. You can send your symptoms and requests through your GP’s website or via the NHS App, as well as contacting them by phone.

“And many common conditions can be safely managed at home with self-care, or with advice from a pharmacist, including through the Pharmacy First scheme.”

Find out more about other NHS services:

NHS 111

There are a range of services available to help. Visit 111.nhs.uk or phone 111, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year for advice, appointments or to get directed to the most appropriate service.

Pharmacy

Local pharmacies can help with less urgent conditions and may be able to offer treatment and some prescription medicine without you needing to see a GP (this is called Pharmacy First).

Conditions they can treat through Pharmacy First are:

• earache (aged 1 to 17 years)

• impetigo (aged 1 year and over)

• infected insect bites (aged 1 year and over)

• shingles (aged 18 years and over)

• sinusitis (aged 12 years and over)

• sore throat (aged 5 years and over)

• urinary tract infections or UTIs (women aged 16 to 64 years)

Some pharmacies open late (until midnight) and at weekends. Find out more about pharmacies near you on the ICB  website.

Self-care

There is also self-care information to help you manage common conditions such as minor burns and scalds, conjunctivitis, constipation and cystitis on the ICB website. The NHS website also has helpful information about different health conditions.

Children’s health and wellbeing

Find advice for worried parents, covering common illnesses and when to seek treatment for you baby or child. This covers conditions such as chickenpox, asthma, earache, scarlet fever and many more.

Mental health

If you need mental health support, or are in crisis, you can call 111 (option 2) to be directed to the right support. You can also find information on mental health services and support on the ICB website.

Nottinghamshire Crisis Sanctuaries can help you with support, information and guidance if you are over 18 years old and experiencing mental health issues or in a mental health crisis.

You can just drop in to one of the sanctuaries or visit the Nottinghamshire Crisis Sanctuaries website for more information.

• Beeston: 318 High Road, NG9 1EJ: 6pm to 11pm Monday to Sunday

• Mansfield: top of St John Street, NG18 1QJ: 4pm to 9pm Monday to Sunday

• Worksop: Hardy Street, S80 1EH: 5pm to 10pm Wednesday and Sunday

• Nottingham City: the Wellbeing Hub, 73 Hounds Gate, NG1 6BB: 6pm to 11pm Monday to Sunday

General practice

Contact your General Practice team about symptoms that aren’t going away. They can offer telephone, online, or face-to-face appointments with a GP, nurse or other healthcare professional depending on what your health concern is. You can send your symptoms and requests through your GP’s website or via the NHS App, as well as contacting them by phone. Remember, your GP is open until 6.30pm and if you need help out of hours, please visit 111 online or phone 111.

Urgent treatment centres

You can visit your local Urgent Treatment Centre for sprains, fractures, minor burns and skin infections:

Nottingham – The NHS Urgent Treatment Centre (next to the BBC building) is open every day from 7am-7pm. Seaton House, London Road, Nottingham, NG2 4LA Tel: 0115 883 8500

Newark – Newark Hospital is open every day 8am-10.30pm (last patient seen at 9.30pm). Boundary Road, NG24 4DE

Dental care

For urgent dental care you can call your local NHS dentist, contact NHS111 or visit the ICB website for a list of practices offering urgent dental appointments.