‘Business as usual’ as patients urged to choose NHS services wisely during extreme heat

It will be ‘business as usual’ at King’s Mill, Newark and Mansfield Community Hospitals over the coming week, despite an unprecedented Met Office red weather warning of extreme heat across the East Midlands throughout Monday and Tuesday (18 and 19 July).

However, patients are being asked to choose the NHS service that best suits their needs, as periods of warmer weather can lead to more patients attending local hospitals for treatment for conditions like dehydration, heat exhaustion, sunburn and sunstroke – many of which can easily be prevented.

Dr David Selwyn, the Medial Director for Sherwood Forest Hospitals, said: “Our hardworking NHS colleagues are continuing to work around the clock – 24 hours a day, seven days a week – to keep vital services running for patients and this week will be no different, despite the soaring temperatures.

“Prevention is often the best way to avoid people becoming unwell and there are simple things we can all do to help stay healthy when it is extremely warm, like drinking plenty of water, applying sunscreen, avoiding excess alcohol, avoiding unsupervised open water swimming and looking out for those who are unable to keep themselves cool and hydrated, particularly if they have a health condition.

“If you think you need medical treatment and it’s not an emergency, please visit nhs.uk or call NHS111 for advice to help keep our hospitals clear for those that need them most.”

The vast majority of non-urgent appointments at the Trust will go-ahead as planned this week, although a small number of the most vulnerable patients who are most at-risk of becoming seriously unwell in the extreme heat have already been contacted to rearrange their appointments for their own safety.

All other patients with an appointment at the Trust on Monday and Tuesday who have not been contacted should assume that their appointment will go-ahead as planned. Those patients are asked not to call the Trust unless they need to rearrange, in order to free-up call handlers to help other patients.

Any patient who is not comfortable or confident travelling to their appointment in the extreme heat is being asked to call the Trust’s booking line using the information provided on their appointment letter to rearrange, if they wish.

“Our message to patients who are due to attend our hospitals for an appointment over the coming days is clear,” said Dr Selwyn. “Your NHS is here for you, but please don’t call us to check if your appointment is going ahead – we will call you if there is a problem.”

For more information on how to cope in hot weather, visit nhs.uk