Screens showing waiting times at St Mary's Hospital are now on display outside the Newport site.
The electronic boards give an indication of the latest wait times for both the Emergency Department (A&E) and Urgent Treatment Centre.
The Isle of Wight NHS Trust says it allows people to decide whether or not to wait to be seen by a clinician at the hospital, or seek professional healthcare advice elsewhere.
Joe Smyth, the Trust’s Chief Operating Officer, said:
“We want people to have the most up to date information so they can make informed choices. These information boards will display the current waiting times in our Emergency Department and in our Urgent Treatment Centre. They will remind people that there are alternatives if they do not wish to wait and that these services can be accessed by calling NHS 111 First. This is another step in our on-going journey of making our services more accessible and patient focused.
“Our Emergency Department performance figures have improved significantly over the past six months, the public can support this improvement by remembering to call NHS 111 first for minor illness or injury.”
The wait times on the screens will complement the recently launched NHS 111 First campaign that encourages everyone to contact NHS 111 first for the right care in the right place.
Unless it is a medical 999 emergency, the NHS is urging everyone to call 111 rather than turning up at the hospital.
When people call NHS 111, they are taken through a series of questions which will determine the next course of action. This new scheme may result in a recommendation to visit a local pharmacy, an appointment being made with a GP, or an arrival time being given for the Urgent Treatment Centre or Emergency Department at St Mary’s Hospital.
This helps the hospital know who and when someone is due to attend either department.
Samara Lamb, Head of Nursing for the Urgent and Emergency Care, said:
“The new screens displaying current Emergency Department (A&E) and Urgent Treatment Centre will inform and encourage those with non-life threatening emergency to seek the most appropriate service for their health care needs by calling 111 before presenting to either department.
“By the nature of the services, average waiting times can change significantly based on the number of attendances and acuity of presentations. Therefore, to keep patients informed of average waiting times is major progress.”
It is hoped that the combined wait times on the electronic screens, in conjunction with NHS 111 First, will prevent people from having an unnecessarily long wait to be seen at the Emergency Department or Urgent Treatment Centre.
Those that do decide to attend the hospital, can still keep an eye on the wait times via a screen in each department.
The Trust is also in the process of implementing the wait times on the front page of their website, making them visible without even entering the hospital site.
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