Local NHS Asks For Your Help As Local Hospitals Face One Of Busiest Winter Weeks

The local NHS is urging local people to ‘help us, help you’ by using services appropriately during one of the busiest weeks of the year.

All hospitals across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight are currently seeing a surge in people needing care, meaning they are very busy.

Hampshire Hospitals who run Basingstoke and Winchester hospitals have declared a critical incident due to the sustained pressures, which allows them to put measures in place to ensure services continue to run as safely as possible.

There is currently a high number of unwell people needing hospital care, including with flu and other winter bugs.

All NHS organisations across Hampshire and Isle of Wight are working together to ensure local people continue to get the best possible care.

The public have also been asked to play their part by ensuring they are using the most appropriate services for their health needs.

Dr Michele Legg, Isle of Wight GP and Deputy Chief Medical Officer at NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight, said:

“Across the local NHS, we are doing everything possible to make sure people continue to get the care they need at this very busy time.  

“We are seeing very high numbers of people needing hospital care and this does mean that some people may have to wait longer than we would like to access some services.

“It is very important people help us to help you by using appropriate services if you do need support, treatment and care.

"This ensures they are getting the care they need and means services can run effectively for other people.

"This is particularly important for our emergency services and departments who need to be able to respond quickly to treat people who are most acutely unwell and injured.

“There are a lot of services available. Most people at this time of year can self-care for coughs and colds at home or seek support from their local pharmacy.

"If you need further medical assistance and are not sure where to go NHS 111 online or calling NHS 111 is a great source of information and can signpost you to further support.  It's also not too late to get protected from winter bugs by getting your flu or covid vaccine.

“I would also like to say a massive thank you to all the staff who are working so hard during this pressured time.”

What the public can do to help:

Get vaccinated to help yourself and others

If you are eligible for a flu vaccination, it’s not too late to get protected.

You can book your flu vaccine by downloading the NHS App, contacting your GP or local Community Pharmacy directly, or by calling 119 free if you cannot get online.

Further information on who is eligible for free vaccinations this winter can be found on our Get Winter Strong webpages. You will be protecting yourself and everyone you come into contact with.

Remember the Emergency Department (ED) is for emergencies

Hospital Emergency Departments and 999 are really busy and must be kept for emergencies.

Pharmacies can help with concerns about minor illness; Urgent Treatment Centres around the area can see injuries, including limb fractures.

Try these ahead of the Emergency Department or your GP or contact 111 online if you are unsure.

If you or someone you know needs urgent care but it is not a life-threatening emergency contact 111 first

Contact 111 online for urgent care and trained staff will help you find the service you need or advise you on what to do.

They can even book you an appointment slot if you need one so you know exactly when to attend – all arranged quickly and easily from the safety and the comfort of your own home. 

Urgent treatment centres are best for minor injuries

Minor injuries or illnesses don’t need the Emergency Department. You’ll often be seen more quickly, by trained experts, at one of our many urgent treatment centres or minor injuries units for aches, sprains, strains, wound infections and even limb fractures. NHS 111 can even book you in if you contact them first. We have Urgent Treatment Centres in Andover, Gosport, Lymington, Petersfield, Portsmouth, Southampton and on the Isle of Wight. Please check your local service for opening times or see our website.

Expert help on every high street…

Your high street pharmacist is a highly qualified expert who can help you with concerns about minor illnesses, medicines or other wellbeing advice.

They can put your mind at rest very quickly, or point you in the direction of someone who can help should you need it.

The Pharmacy First scheme also ensures that pharmacies can offer treatment and medication.

Further information about the Pharmacy First scheme in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight can be found here: Treatment straight from your pharmacy

Mental Health support

The NHS 111 mental health triage team provides mental health support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to people of all ages across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.

There is also a Shout text service where anyone in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight can text 'HANTS' to 85258 to speak by text with one of Shout's trained volunteers.

Shout is a free, confidential, 24/7 text messaging support service for anyone who is struggling to cope. It won’t show up on your phone bill.

Your GP practice has online access and a range of expert help…

GP practices are very busy and that is why they will often triage requests to ensure that they prioritise people according to need.

Using eConsult or your practice’s online contact service helps the practice clinician get you the right help at the right time, including experts in the team to see you quickly.

There are things you can do to help yourself…

Keeping some everyday medicines and painkillers in a safe place at home can be really useful for dealing with minor bugs and illnesses like colds or stomach upsets.

For some top tips from local NHS professionals visit here.

Make use of online help – and contact services online if you can

The NHS has other great resources online to help you check symptoms and get advice. Try www.nhs.uk for health and medicines advice and Healthier Together www.what0-18.nhs.uk/ if you are concerned about an unwell child.

There’s no place like home if you’re ready to leave hospital

If you have a loved one or friend in hospital who is ready to come home, you can help by picking them up promptly.

A friendly face to ease them home is really important and it also means our hospitals beds can be made available quickly for patients who need them.