No one will be turned away from Leighton Hospital’s emergency department despite a new A&E appointment system, says one of its lead doctors.
People in Cheshire who need NHS care are now being urged to contact NHS 111 before they decide to walk into A&E.
NHS 111 is booking time slots for attendance at the emergency department or will direct patients to alternative services if appropriate.
It is hoped the new system will improve patient experience, and prevent crowding in emergency departments at Leighton and other Cheshire hospitals.
But it has sparked fears that people in urgent need of treatment will be turned away if they turn up without a booked slot.
Seif Ahmad, Emergency Department Service Lead at Leighton Hospital, said: “Nobody is going to be turned away from our emergency department.
“But, so we can avoid a lot of people arriving at the same time, if you have an urgent – but not emergency – health issue contact NHS 111 to find out where you should be treated and when.
“If it is decided you should go to the emergency department, by giving you an appointment slot we can see and treat you more quickly and safely maintain social distancing in our waiting room to protect you from the risk of COVID-19 as well as seasonal illnesses like flu and colds.”
David Coyle, Chief Operating Officer at The Countess of Chester Hospital, added: “NHS 111 First is about giving patients faster and easier access to the care they need.
“If it is decided, following assessment by a trained clinician, that going to A&E is the right thing to do then an appointment slot can be provided.
“This will help us to better maintain your safety by ensuring social distancing in our A&E waiting area, while also speeding up triaging and the initial assessment processes.
“Everyone who attends A&E, whether they contacted NHS 111 first or not, will be initially assessed, directed to the appropriate place and / or treated by our teams and can expect the same high-quality care as always.”
People with life-threatening conditions or those that need emergency attention should still call 999.
In addition to the free NHS 111 phone line, NHS 111 can also be contacted online: https://111.nhs.uk/
This could make sense as so many people go to A&E when they don’t need to.
Make people with possibly urgent, but not emergency, wait a minimum of four hours unless they have booked. See emergencies immediately.