HOSPITAL staff have issued an appeal to think carefully before using the accident and emergency department.
Due to recent bad weather, staff at hospitals run by the Western Sussex Hospitals NHS Trust, have seen an increase of patients attending A&E.
The trust runs St Richard’s Hospital in Chichester.
Dr Phillip Barnes, medical director at the trust, said: ‘If anyone has an accident or needs emergency care, then of course our A&E teams are there to help.
‘But if your condition is not an emergency, please stop for a minute and consider your options – there are lots of choices out there, and it is essential that we try to protect our A&E services for those who need them most.
‘We would always want people to use their local A&E service wisely, but even more so at the moment when there are so many people suffering serious illnesses and injuries.’
People are being advised to speak to their GP, a pharmacist or use walk-in centres.
To find out more, visit westsussex.nhs.uk.
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