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Stay away from A&E department
DO NOT go to the Royal Lancaster Infirmary’s A&E department unless it’s an emergency - that is the message from the local hospitals trust.
The department is extremely busy at the moment due to the large number people who have fallen on ice so the trust is asking non emergency patients to stay away.
The mother of one young woman who needed treatment after falling on the ice told The Visitor that an extra room had to be opened up to hold casualties and that the corridors outside the x-ray department were full of patients on beds and wheelchairs waiting for treatment.
She had to wait more than four hours for treatment.
Peter Dyer, Medical Director, University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust (UHMBT), said: “The extreme icy conditions we have been experiencing over the past 12-24 hours have led to a significant number of patients attending our Emergency Departments at the Royal Lancaster Infirmary and Furness General.
“To help us make sure we treat those in need of help as quickly as possible, we are politely asking that members of the public do not attend either of our emergency departments unless it is absolutely necessary.
“If members of the public do attend the departments, they will be seen in order of clinical need meaning that the most poorly patients will be seen first. Unfortunately, those patients who are not suffering from life-threatening or serious conditions may find themselves having to wait longer than usual to be seen. Our staff are working hard to keep these delays to a minimum and we thank you for your patience.
“As these icy conditions are expected to remain hazardous for at least the next 24 hours, please take care when walking on pavements. Older people are particularly vulnerable to slips and falls and it is strongly encouraged that they stay indoors until conditions improve.
“If you feel unwell or suffer a slip, trip or a fall, there are a range of services which you can use for non-emergencies, such as your GP, local pharmacy, NHS Direct and NHS Choices.”
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Weather for Lancaster
Friday 25 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 13 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 22 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 22 C
Wind Speed: 23 mph
Wind direction: East
Comments
There are 4 comments to this article
Page 1 of 1
a sandgrownun
Sunday, February 12, 2012 at 11:39 AMwhat a load of rubish people use the a and e from morecambe and elsewere all the time day in day out not because the weathers bad. bash the nhs no bash shutting our queen vic hospital the one i was born in.do you presume no one gets il in morecambe heysham overton or middleton. il say it again its a long way to the rli its in right mess there is not enough staff and waiting times are to long as you will find out if you ever need it
tom_berry
Friday, February 10, 2012 at 10:02 AMThat was meant to be weather or ice. Didn't realise that obliques did not work on here!
tom_berry
Friday, February 10, 2012 at 10:01 AMI dont think that under-used A&E departments should be kept open just for the 1 or 2 days a year that we get bad weatherice on pavements etc. All they are saying is not to attend if you don't absolutely need to. Some people will use any excuse to bash the NHS.
a sandgrownun
Thursday, February 9, 2012 at 06:05 PMwell you should of kept emergency depts open in kendal and the queen vic people told you what would happen. anything in lancaster is a nightmare to get to anyway
Page 1 of 1
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