The Isle of Wight community is being asked to support Island health services as the number of patients needing urgent and emergency care has reached peak levels.
People are having a long wait to be seen in the Emergency Department at St Mary's Hospital and the IW Ambulance Service is responding to a high number of 999 and 111 calls.
Delays in being able to transfer people to emergency care is contributing to pressure across the Island’s health and care system.
The Trust is calling on the local community to help the situation by taking their relatives or friends home from the hospital as soon as they are declared ready to leave and to provide care and support from home if they can.
People are being reminded to visit 111 online or speak to a pharmacist, GP or practice nurse in the first instance for support with minor conditions that do not require hospital treatment.
Victoria Lauchlan, Chief Operating Officer at the Trust said:
“For people attending our Emergency Department at the moment we are really sorry that they are having to wait some time to be seen.
"Our teams are working around the clock and together with our partners, we are doing all we can to support people to leave hospital as soon as they are ready but we need help.
“If you have a relative or loved one in hospital please speak to staff on the ward about how you can help them to leave hospital and if you are able to support them at home for a short time until a plan for their ongoing care is in place.
“As soon as a person is medically ready to leave hospital, they should be discharged to their place of residence. Every time one patient leaves the hospital it helps another person move through the hospital to ensure they get the care they need.
"This means the Emergency Department is free for those that need lifesaving care, and ambulances are able to quickly return to the community to provide emergency support to people.”
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