PEOPLE who come to Bradford Royal Infirmary’s A&E department with minor conditions will be re-directed to other services to ease the pressure on emergency services.

As the NHS deals with a second wave of COVID-19 and winter, Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has worked with NHS Bradford District and Craven Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) to introduce a new system.

It will make sure patients in need of emergency care are prioritised.

This means that people who turn up at A&E with minor conditions, which could be treated by self-care or a GP, will be re-directed to a more appropriate service away from the hospital.

Anyone attending A&E for minor illnesses and injuries will be asked to contact NHS 111 or their own GP practice for advice and treatment, if needed.

People, including children, who attend A&E out-of-hours with non-emergency conditions, but which need assessment, will be offered a phone, video, or, where appropriate, a face-to-face appointment with a GP as soon as possible. These calls will be with the district’s out-of-hours GP service.

During working hours, people with non-emergency conditions should contact their own GP practice directly, and out-of-hours they should contact NHS 111, which has the same access to GP appointments. This will save people time going to A&E when they could get advice or a GP appointment without leaving home.

Examples of non-emergency conditions include skin rashes, colds and sore throats, dental pain, long-term conditions, earache, back pain and non-acute mental health problems.

A&E Consultant at Bradford Royal Infirmary, Dr David Greenhorn, said: “Now, more than ever, we need to keep A&E for patients with the most serious conditions. We have to deal with emergency cases, including patients with COVID-19, and need to main patient safety by social distancing in the department.

“This is made all the more challenging due to the number of people who come to A&E with minor conditions which could be dealt with elsewhere or by self-care and advice from a community pharmacist.

“The new system aims to re-direct those people who really shouldn’t have come to A&E in the first place. They won’t be turned away without speaking to a clinician – but will be given expert advice and help about where they should go to meet their clinical needs.”

Anyone who is acutely unwell and is obviously requiring immediate assessment and treatment will be seen by A&E but other people will be re-directed to appropriate services.

Dr Dave Tatham, GP and clinical lead for urgent and emergency care, NHS Bradford District and Craven CCG, said: “GP practices are still open and very much still here to help. If you have a non-emergency, like back pain, skin rashes or need help managing a long-term condition such as diabetes, contact your GP practice, A&E will not be able to see you.

“Due to coronavirus, GP practices are still seeing as many people as they can over the phone or using video consultations. But I would like to reassure people that if you need to be seen face-to-face, you will be offered an appointment.

“People can also still drop into pharmacies for on the spot advice on lots of minor conditions. You don’t need an appointment, and you’ll often be seen, given advice, and guidance on what medication or treatment would help, without having to wait in A&E or for a GP appointment.

“There is also lots of advice available 24/7 online at nhs.uk – including a symptom checker, and service finder, which will help you find the best service for your needs.”