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An open message to local residents from the NHS

22 February 2024

An open message to local residents from the NHS

 

From 7am 24 February – 11.59pm 28 February junior doctors will be on strike.

Your local NHS is asking everyone to take extra care of themselves and to only use the Emergency Departments at Frimley Park and Wexham Park hospitals if absolutely necessary during the period of industrial action.

Most NHS services outside of hospitals will be less impacted by the strikes. Urgent care centres at Bracknell, Aldershot and Slough, as well as community pharmacies, GP surgeries and NHS 111 will all open as usual.

Over the past few weeks, our Emergency Departments (A&Es) have been exceptionally busy. In order to prioritise and support our sickest patients, those attending hospital may be redirected to an urgent care centre if safe to do so. For those that do need to stay in the Emergency Department, waits may be longer than usual. 

As such, local people are being asked to take the following actions to support NHS services:

  • For anything that isn’t a life-saving emergency, to use an alternative NHS service and to use NHS 111 first either online or by phone.
    • Your local pharmacist offers expert clinical advice for minor health concerns and help with many common illnesses such as sore throats, coughs, colds, tummy troubles, aches and pains.

Since 31 January 2024 the Pharmacy First service launched, meaning patients can now get treatment for seven common conditions directly from their local pharmacy without the need for a GP appointment or prescription. The seven common conditions are: shingles, sore throat (five years and over), infected insect bites, earaches in children (aged one to 17), sinusitis (12 years and over), impetigo, and uncomplicated urinary tract infections in women.

  • Your GP practice offers same day primary care appointments. These may be at your practice or at another location, for example a same day minor illness or injury service.
    • If your child is unwell, and you’re not sure where the best place to go for advice is, visit the NHS Frimley Healthier Together website or download the app. Designed by local experts, it provides support to parents and carers to help them manage a range of common childhood illnesses. https://frimley-healthiertogether.nhs.uk
    • Same day Minor Injury Unit at Brants Bridge, Bracknell, RG12 9RT is open seven days a week from 8am to 8pm – no appointment needed, you can just walk in.
    • Same day services for minor illness:
      • Aldershot Urgent Care Centre – for residents across north east Hampshire, Farnham and Surrey Heath. Open 8am – 8pm Mon to Sat. If you contact 111 or your local GP practice, you may be offered an appointment here. You may also be redirected to this service if you attend A&E.

There is a walk-in clinic for under-12s, available Mon to Sat from 2-6pm. However, booking is strongly recommended for children under 12 to avoid long waiting times and to ensure availability of appointment as those with urgent clinical needs will be prioritised. Aldershot Urgent Care Centre

  • Slough Urgent Care Centre, Priors Close - open 8am-8pm, seven days a week, providing booked and walk-in urgent care for patients who do not require treatment in the Emergency Department. Patients must be registered with a GP in the Slough area. Walk in and be given a booked appointment (option to sit and wait or come back at the appointment time).
  • St Mark’s Urgent Primary Care Centre offers same day urgent care for both minor illness and minor injuries for Maidenhead registered patients. Your GP practice or NHS 111 can book you into this service.
  • Windsor Same Day service: same-day minor illness care, booked via your Windsor-based GP practice. Located at King Edward VII Hospital, open 8am to 8pm Monday to Friday and 9am to 5.30pm on Saturdays.
  • Bracknell Same Day service for minor illness for patients registered in Bracknell Forest and Ascot only. Booked appointments only via NHS 111 or your GP surgery. If you are feeling worried about your mental health there are a number of services available - visit Mental Health Support | Frimley Health and Care
    If you are in a mental health crisis, call 111 or text Shout to 85258. Shout is a free, confidential, 24/7 text messaging support service for anyone who is struggling to cope.

It’s important to remember that if you have a scheduled outpatient appointment, please keep it. If anything changes, the hospital will let you know.

Please also help us by taking family or friends home from hospital when they are well enough. This will help free up beds for others who need them.

We are sorry for any inconvenience and thank you for your understanding. We also thank our colleagues in our hospitals and primary care for their hard work.

Thank you for supporting us at this time.

Dr John Seymour, Deputy Medical Director, Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust

Dr Lalitha Iyer, Chief Medical Officer, NHS Frimley Integrated Care Board