Health bosses are asking for the public’s help to make sure staff can focus on caring for the sickest patients in our community who need life-saving care.

The public are being asked to use 111 online first, urgent treatment centres, GPs and pharmacies if it is a minor illness or injury and is not life threatening.

The pressures that the NHS is seeing are not down to a single reason, but can be attributed to a number of things including; the rise of people testing positive for Covid-19, an increase in patients needing to be admitted to hospital with other illnesses, and too many patients in hospital beds who are well enough to leave but are unable to. When we have patients in hospital beds who are well enough to go home, it prevents hospital trusts from using them for patients who need specialist care.

Currently across the system we have 485 patients in our hospitals who have tested positive for Covid-19. For the majority of patients Covid-19 is not the primary reason for their admission, however this still causes pressures due to patients needing to be isolated for infection control reasons, so we continue to ask the public to remain vigilant and consider wearing masks in crowded areas.

If it’s urgent but not an emergency you can visit 111 online to speak to a nurse, GP or emergency dentist.

Urgent treatment centres can be used for things like; fractures, sprains, minor burns, and skin infections. The Urgent Treatment Centre on London Road in Nottingham is open 7am – 9pm and the Urgent Treatment Centre in Newark is open 9am – 9:30pm.

Pharmacies have experts in allergies, constipation, headaches, ear aches and cold and flu treatments.

Lisa Kelly, Chief Operating Officer at Nottingham University Hospitals Trust, said: “We are here and ready to provide the specialist care for the most poorly people in our communities and we value your support in helping us to do this.

“People who are attending our Emergency Department with a minor illness, are waiting a very long time to be seen. For minor illness and injuries please consider accessing other services provided by our highly skilled colleagues such as your GP, pharmacists, the Urgent Treatment Centre at London Road and NHS 111.

“We are grateful to families for continuing to do everything they can to support loved ones to return home.”

Chief Operating Officer for Sherwood Forest Hospitals, Simon Barton added: “We always work hard to provide the best possible care to our patients in a timely way.

“We would urge people to use 111 online if it is not a life threatening emergency, or visit our Urgent Treatment Centre at Newark between 9am and 9:30pm if it is a minor burn, fracture or sprain you are suffering from, as you will be seen quicker.”

Amanda Sullivan, Accountable Officer at NHS Nottingham and Nottinghamshire CCG, said: “Our hospitals remain under significant pressure. This is a result of rising staff sickness levels, busy emergency departments, the number of Covid-19 patients as well as the need to discharge patients who no longer need to be in hospital. You can help us to manage this pressure by making sure you wear face coverings in our hospitals, helping to get your relatives back home and by choosing the right service. We would like to remind people to make sure they only attend emergency departments if it is an emergency. If you are unsure, use NHS 111 Online first and they will direct you to the right service for your needs.”