Since Thursday 24th November, the NHS launched it’s annual NHS 111 Online campaign, which hopes to help relieve pressure on emergency departments and their services. This national campaign allows patients to get support they may need from their homes ahead of winter on a variety of health problems. The NHS 111 online service, which is available 24/7, is designed for you to input your postcode, sex, age, main symptom and answer a series of questions where you can then be provided with the most accurate response. This could be anything from getting a call back from a nurse or doctor, receiving advice on self-care or, if you need to seek urgent medical attention.

Although you should still call 999 and go to A&E if there is an emergency, it’s predicted around two-fifths of patients admitted to A&E are avoidable or could receive care elsewhere. This campaign, which is a part of the health service’s wider “Help Us to Help You” campaign, is intended to hopefully reduce this issue whilst also providing many different care options. This is expected to be a very popular service with the general public as it’s more convenient for most people – especially the elderly.

October 2022 was recorded to be the busiest ever month for patients going to A&E, with more than 2.17 million patients going to their local emergency department in England, along with the most severe ambulance callouts. As the winter months are the busiest period for emergency departments and services, the NHS are preparing to boost capacity by increasing staff to provide the most effective care to the public.

Professor Sir Stephen Powis, NHS national medical director

“This new campaign will remind the public that NHS 111 online is available to signpost people to the best option for their care needs ahead of winter -it can provide the most appropriate local treatment option for medical issues quickly without needing to leave your home and saving you an unnecessary trip to A&E. It is vital that people continue to use A&E and call 999 in an emergency so as ever, please do come forward for the care you may need”.

Health and Social Care Secretary Steve Barclay

“The coming months will be challenging and we have prioritised the NHS with an extra £6.6 billion, on top of previous record funding, in the Autumn Statement. The NHS has also invested £50 million to boost NHS 111 call-taking capacity this year. The best thing the public can do this winter to stay healthy is to get their flu and Covid booster jabs to protect themselves and reduce pressure on hospitals”.

With the constant rising pressures on hospital staff, we need our healthcare professionals on the front line now more than ever. If you’re currently looking for your next position as a healthcare worker, get in touch with Athona today and our recruiters can work with you on a 1-to-1 basis to help you find your next role.

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