
Health professionals in eastern and coastal Kent are urging the public to take a more responsible attitude when seeking treatment this winter.
The warning comes at the start of what could be one of the toughest winters yet for the NHS, with swine flu combining with regular winter pressures, such as seasonal flu, putting extra pressure on emergency services and GP surgeries.
Every year, winter is the busiest season for accident and emergency (A&E) departments and figures already show that attendances in eastern and coastal Kent are up by 10 per cent on this time last year.
People are arriving at A&E with minor ailments such as coughs, colds, earaches and sore throats without any concern for the more vulnerable patients who could be harmed as a result of catching even minor infections.
There is often no need for the visit to A&E as there is a wide range of other health services available to the public that may be more suitable such as the NHS Direct web and telephone service, pharmacists, NHS walk-in centres and GP surgeries.
Sarah Andrews, Director of Nursing at NHS Eastern and Coastal Kent, said: ““Staying at home and caring for yourself is the best option for things like hangovers, grazed knees, sore throats and coughs. Many of these ailments can simply be treated by using medicine and getting plenty of rest.
“In case you do get ill, it is good to be prepared. Essential items include paracetamol or aspirin, anti-diarrhoeal medicine, oral rehydration mixture, indigestion remedy, plasters and a thermometer. Ask your pharmacist for help to decide what medicines you need and always follow the dosage on the label.
“You can also help to prevent the spread of infections by cleaning you hands regularly. The most common way infections are spread is on people’s hands especially those that cause diarrhoea, sickness, tummy bugs, colds and flu.”
Ann Sutton, Chief Executive of NHS Eastern and Coastal Kent said: ““Self care when treating minor illnesses has an important part to play in ensuring the NHS delivers the most efficient and effective treatments and best value for money.”
The rates of influenza-like illness in eastern and coastal Kent reported to GPs during the week ending 25 October have shown a small decrease to 28.7 per 100,000 population from 30.4 per 100,000 population the previous week.
Anyone suspecting they have swine flu can check their symptoms on the National Pandemic Flu Service website www.direct.gov.uk/pandemicflu or call 0800 1 513 100 or 0800 1 513 200.
Once people are confirmed with swine flu by the National Pandemic Flu Service, they will be given a unique authorisation number that the ‘flu friend’ can use to pick up the antivirals from a local antiviral collection point.
Callers to the service will be told where their nearest antiviral collection point is.
However, people with swine flu symptoms should only contact their doctor direct rather than using the National Pandemic Flu Service if they:
• Have a serious underlying illness
• Are pregnant
• Have a sick child under one year old
• Realise their condition is suddenly getting much worse
• Think their condition is still getting worse after seven days (five for a child).
For more information contact:
Christine King
01227 795089
christine.king@eastcoastkent.nhs.uk