Health and care services across Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin are under extreme pressure, so we are asking our local communities to please choose the right service for their health needs.
This will really help to reduce the pressure and ensure that everyone is getting the right care, in the right place as quickly as possible.
We are managing high numbers of people coming into our Emergency Departments, which is leading to long waits as we prioritise those most in need. We are taking additional steps to ensure we continue to provide the care our communities need, but we also need their help. Please can we ask you to:
- Only go to an emergency department if you have a life-threatening injury or illness.
- Visit NHS 111 online or call 111 if you need urgent medical help. They can direct you to the right place and help you get treated sooner.
- Consider using your local Minor Injury Unit in Bridgnorth, Ludlow, Oswestry and Whitchurch. These can provide rapid treatment for injuries and illnesses that don’t require emergency hospital care.
- Use your local pharmacist for minor conditions such as upset stomachs, earache, skin rashes and for relief of coughs and colds.
- You can also contact your local GP. If you need more help, visit the think which service website.
- If you have a loved one or family member in hospital, help us get them home as soon as they are well enough to leave our care.
Despite the challenges, urgent and emergency care services at both the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital and the Princess Royal Hospital in Telford remain open for anyone who needs them. Please do continue to come forward.
Our teams are working incredibly hard to ensure everyone gets the care they need as quickly as possible, and I would like to thank them for everything they are doing.
Vaccinations are our best defence against flu and COVID-19 and this week saw the launch of the NHS adult winter flu and COVID-19 vaccination programme for those most at risk. We also started the rollout of vaccinations to our healthcare teams.
The vaccination programme is being delivered slightly earlier than usual this year, in line with the latest expert guidance on the new COVID-19 variant – known as the BA.2.86 variant.
From Monday 18 September, the NHS will start to invite people in priority order of risk and those eligible will be able to book an appointment on the National Booking Service. Eligible people should wait to receive an invite from their local provider – full details about the vaccination programme are available on the NHS Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin website here.
Finally, I wanted to share a video update with you on the exciting progress being made on the upgrade to the front entrance at the Princess Royal Hospital.
This is part of a multi-million pound investment, which includes a fantastic new Planned Care Hub. These developments will provide modernised theatres and recovery areas and an improved entrance and reception area, to help us provide high quality care and a better experience for everyone.