Hospital bosses warn people to only visit “extremely busy” A&Es in a genuine emergency

By Tara O’Connor, Local Democracy Reporter

Hospital bosses in South London are urging people to think twice before visiting accident and emergency departments as they are currently “extremely busy”.

Residents are being asked to only attend A&E if it is a genuine emergency.

The message comes from the trust which runs Croydon University Hospital.

Medical director Dr Subhro Banerjee said: “Our services are currently extremely busy and across the trust we are continuing to do our best to care for people at home through our community teams, and in hospital for people who need emergency care, diagnosis or treatment.

“We would ask that people think carefully before coming to A&E to avoid unnecessary waits.

“Our clinical teams will assess everyone on arrival, but we will see people in order of clinical priority to focus our attention first on the most unwell or critically ill.

“For minor issues or if you need health advice quickly, the best advice is to speak to your local pharmacist or call NHS 111.”

A similar warning was issued by the the Epsom and St Helier Hospital Trust, which said both hospitals were “incredibly busy”.

The trust Tweeted: “Please help our sickest local people to get treated as quickly as possible.

“Please support our emergency care teams. Only come if it really is an emergency.”

It later shared advice for staying safe in a heatwave, once again asking people to “help us help you” by only coming to the hospitals in an emergency.

Pictured top: Croydon University Hospital (Picture: Wikimedia Commons/Bob Walker)