Comment from Diane Wake, chief executive, the Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust
“We are pleased to confirm that the service pressures we have experienced over the last twenty four hours, have started to ease.
“Our NHS staff and care partners have continued to work tirelessly to maintain services and keep our patients safe under these challenging circumstances. We are grateful to everyone who has taken steps to help relieve the pressure, and we would like to thank our incredible teams across the health and social care sector for their efforts.
“However, we are still seeing significant demand upon all our services across the Trust, including a high number of patients waiting for treatment in our emergency department. Our main focus continues to be providing care for patients who need urgent or emergency care, and those who are receiving inpatient care in our clinical sites.
“Patients and members of the public will continue to be asked to use our services wisely to ensure those patients with the greatest need can access care and support. If people need medical help, we would ask them to visit NHS111 online or use a service in the local area such as a local pharmacist or GP.”
What can you do to help?
As our teams continue to work exceptionally hard, and we would like to reassure our patients and the public that despite the challenges faced, essential services remain fully open for anyone who needs them so if you require urgent medical help, please continue to come forward.
Patients may experience longer waits, but please be assured we will be prioritising care based on clinical need to maintain safe services for our patients.
Other things you can do to help the NHS, include:
- Contact NHS 111 for urgent medical help or if you are unsure which service you need. It’s available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
You can get help from NHS 111:
- by using 111 online
- in the NHS App
- by calling 111
NHS 111 can direct you to the best place to get help if you cannot contact your GP during the day, or when your GP is closed (out-of-hours). If you need help in other languages, you can call 111 and ask for an interpreter.
- For non-urgent cases when you need medical advice and it’s not an emergency, please speak to your GP practice or a pharmacist.
- If you cannot make any NHS appointment, please contact the number on your appointment letter so that it can be reallocated to another patient.
