Staff at Whiston and Southport hospitals are asking families and carers to support a new winter campaign, Right Care, Right Place, aimed at easing pressure on NHS services during the coming winter months.
The campaign asks the public to help in two ways:
- Use the right NHS service for your needs – from NHS 111 online and pharmacies to urgent treatment centres, before attending A&E.
- Support patients to get home sooner – helping patients who no longer need hospital care return home quickly and comfortably.
Hospitals and A&E departments are there for people who are seriously ill or injured and need urgent or specialist care. When people attend A&E for problems that could be treated elsewhere, or stay in hospital longer than they need to, it puts extra pressure on services and makes it harder for staff to care for those most in need.
The Right Care, Right Place campaign is reminding people to make informed choices about where to go for help.
In addition, it’s important that patients leave hospital as soon as they are well enough to go home. Staying in hospital longer than necessary can slow down recovery and increase the risk of picking up infections. It also helps free up beds for people who are seriously unwell and need urgent care. Leaving during the day means patients can get home safely in daylight, with access to open pharmacies, shops, and local support services. Families and carers play a key role in helping make this happen.
Sarah O’Brien, Chief Nurse, said:
“Home is the best place for recovery once hospital treatment is no longer needed. By helping patients leave earlier in the day, we can reduce delays, free up beds for those waiting in A&E and give everyone a smoother experience.
We also ask people to only attend A&E when it is truly necessary, as many health concerns can be treated more quickly through NHS 111, pharmacies, GPs or urgent treatment centres. Our staff are working tirelessly, but we need families, carers and the public to play their part too.”