Winter is here and NHS Forth Valley needs our help

NHS Forth Valley is now gearing up to cope with extra demands over the festive season and winter is always a very busy time for the NHS and this year, health services across the country face additional challenges due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

To help address this local people across Forth Valley are being asked to prepare for the festive season and make sure they get the “Right Care in the Right Place” this winter.

This year’s NHS Scotland winter campaign, which is called “Show you care. Prepare”, takes the clap for carers idea – which became a familiar sight and sound every Thursday night earlier in the year – and turns it around to show healthcare workers applauding for people who take simple steps to cope with common winter health problems.

NHS Forth Valley’s medical director, Andrew Murray, said: “Winter is always a very busy time for health service, but this year we face extra pressures due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

“We are therefore asking local people to take a few simple steps to ensure they are prepared in the run up to the festive period and access the health services and advice available to help them get the right care in the right place this winter.

“This will help avoid our Emergency Department becoming overcrowded and ensure that people with more serious injuries and illnesses can be seen as quickly as possible.”

Things people can do to ease the strain on NHS Forth Valley include checking any repeat prescription they rely on, making sure they order only what they need and in plenty of time, asking their pharmacist for health advice and checking the self-help health guides at www.NHSInform.scot.

The way people access A&E services has also changed to help keep patients and staff across NHS Scotland safe this winter – making sure everyone gets the right care in the right place.

Local A&E departments, including the emergency department at Forth Valley Royal Hospital, remain open for those who have a life-threatening emergency.

However, to ensure patients have the fastest access to the treatment they need, anyone with a non-life-threatening condition, who would usually go to A&E, should

now call NHS 24 on 111 first, day or night, and they will be directed to the right local NHS service.

There are no changes to the arrangements for emergency healthcare and people should continue to call 999 or go direct to Forth Valley Royal Hospital for

emergencies.

GP practices will be open as normal on Thursday December 24 and then Tuesday, December 29, Wednesday, December 30 and Thursday, December 31.

They will reopen again on Tuesday, January 5.

The minor injuries unit at Stirling Health and Care Village will remain open every day over the festive period from 9am to 9.30pm and can treat adults and children over the age of one for cuts and grazes, minor burns, sprains and strains. It can also help with minor eye and ear injuries, X-rays and treat broken bones.

This year people are asked to call minor injuries assessment) on (01324) 566130 to quickly access clinical advice via a video link or arrange an appointment in either Stirling or Larbert, if required.

A number of community pharmacists in Forth Valley will be open for periods of time on Christmas Day and Boxing Day and New Year’s Day as part of a new

national service called Pharmacy First.

All local pharmacists are able to provide free treatment for a range of common conditions without a GP prescription. These include urine infections, conjunctivitis, skin conditions and infections.

Local opticians across Forth Valley can provide advice and treatment for a wide range of common eye conditions such as blurred vision and eye infections or refer you directly to hospital if the problem is more serious.

To assist people further this winter a new Urgent Care Centre has been set up.

Dr Dan Beckett, NHS Forth Valley consultant physician and clinical lead for the new centre, said: “The development of our new Urgent Care Centre will help ensure

local people across Forth Valley can quickly access clinical advice and support without having to attend the emergency department at Forth Valley Royal Hospital.

“In many cases we will be able to provide this over the phone or via a video consultation but if we do need to see people we can arrange an appointment for them

to attend Urgent Care Centre or another local healthcare facility which will mean they won’t have to wait long period to be seen.

“Giving people staggered appointment times also avoids lots of people turning up at the same time and stops our waiting and treatment areas from becoming overcrowded.

“This means we can help reduce the risk of infection, help keep patients and staff as safe as possible during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and, in some cases,

help avoid the need to attend or be admitted to hospital.”

Scottish health secretary Jeane Freeman added: “The NHS is always there for you. However, for many of us, A&E is not the right place for the care we need. That

is why we are making it easier to get the right care in the right place.

"By doing so, we will continue to help our doctors and nurses through this pandemic, and ensure A&E provides the fastest and most appropriate care for people

when they really need it. Help us keep you and our NHS safe by making the right call at the right time to access the right care in the right place for you and your family.”

Visit www.nhsforthvalley.com/winter for more information.