Live online waiting times launched for Derbyshire patients in need of urgent care
Patients in need of urgent care can now see at a glance how long they can expect to wait for treatment at four local NHS centres in southern Derbyshire.
From this week, live waiting times for minor injury units at Ripley and Ilkeston Community Hospitals will be shown alongside times for the Royal Derby Hospital’s A & E department and Derby’s urgent care centre.
It is the first time that patients can easily check and compare waiting times at all four centres to decide where to go for care – and to signpost them away from attending A&E for less serious illnesses and injuries.
The continually refreshed data is now shown on websites run by Derbyshire Community Health Services NHS Foundation Trust, Derby Teaching Hospitals and Southern Derbyshire Clinical Commissioning Group.
William Jones, chief operating officer for Derbyshire Community Health Services NHS Foundation Trust, which runs the minor injury units, said: “This idea has patients at its heart. When someone needs emergency or urgent care they want to access information quickly. Not everyone needs to go to A&E and this helps them see where else help is available. Our minor injury units are well equipped and staffed and able to deal with a great range of non-life-threatening injuries. The aim is to help everyone get seen more quickly and take some of the pressure off A &E. We are delighted to work with our NHS partners on this.”
Dr Iain Lennon, clinical lead for emergency medicine at the Royal Derby Hospital, said: “It is often the case that patients with minor illnesses and injuries can be seen much more quickly in the urgent care centre or one of the minor injury units in southern Derbyshire. More…/
“These live waiting times will empower patients to make a decision over where they will receive the most appropriate treatment in the quickest time, and will hopefully mean that our A&E is reserved for seriously unwell patients who really need our services.”
As a handy guide to the best treatment options:
- A&E: only for real emergencies, serious accidents and life threatening conditions.
- Derby urgent care centre: A walk-in (no appointment necessary) service for minor illnesses and injuries including sprains and strains, wound infections, minor burns and scalds, insect and animal bites and minor eye injuries.
- Ripley and Ilkeston minor injury units: A walk-in (no appointment necessary) service where patients are triaged and seen as soon as possible. Able to treat: sprains and strains, broken bones, wound infections, minor burns and scalds, minor head injuries, insect and animal bites, minor eye injuries, injuries to the back, shoulder and chest.
The live wait times are viewable at:
- http://www.dchs.nhs.uk/home,
- http://www.derbyhospitals.nhs.uk/,
- http://www.onemedicalgroup.co.uk/derby-urgent-care-centre
Dr Drew Smith, GP Lead for Urgent Care with Southern Derbyshire Clinical Commissioning Group, said he thought the new scheme – the only one of its kind in the area – would make patients more aware of their options.
He added: “Winter sees an increase in pressure across all areas of the health service, so we're encouraging patients to choose the most appropriate setting in which to be seen, depending on their condition. This means patients getting the right treatment in a timely fashion. The minor injury units and urgent care centre are equipped to deal with minor illness and injuries. A&E should be reserved for serious injuries and medical emergencies.”
Anybody unsure of where to go should contact NHS 111, which can offer advice about the most appropriate service
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