Stay well this winter
In the past
year as many of one in four residents in Cambridgeshire visited A&E when
they could have used an alternative service or looked after themselves at home.
Each visit
to A&E costs the local NHS £87, and that’s before any treatment is given.
When you look at the figures, this costs the local NHS over £4million a year.
In turn this is the equivalent cost of 677 hip
replacements, or 287 liver transplants or 115 more dementia nurses.
Using
A&E when you don’t need to can also have a knock-on effect to the rest of
the hospital, as busy A&E departments resulted in 500 cancelled operations
and procedures because a bed was no longer available, and longer waiting and
referral times.
But you can help
·
Stay healthy – get a flu vaccination
if you are eligible
·
Look after others – check on elderly
friends, relatives and neighbours especially in spells of cold weather, help
them to keep warm and have the medication they might need
·
Be prepared – get your prescriptions
in early before the holidays and see your pharmacist or GP for any issues you
might be putting off
·
Choose the right service – your local
pharmacy can provide confidential, expert advice and treatment for a
range of common illnesses and complaints, without having to wait for a GP
appointment.
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