Doctors are reminding people to think carefully before coming to a hospital Emergency Department (ED) at this busy time of year for Northern Ireland's health service.
Last month, Health Minister Mike Nesbitt announced a series of initiatives to protect key health and social care services during another highly challenging winter period.
Mr Nesbitt said the measures detailed in a 2024/25 Winter Preparedness Plan will not eliminate winter pressures on the Health and Social Care system but will help to alleviate their impact.
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The initiatives across primary, secondary and social care detailed in the Winter Preparedness Plan include Phone First services in all geographic Trusts for urgent and unscheduled care. This can support timely management of less serious cases away from busy Emergency Departments and facilitate booking appointments into urgent care services.
So do you know where to go when you need urgent and emergency care this winter? Maggie Magowan, Interim Clinical Manager Emergency and Acute Medicine at the Ulster Hospital, says it's important you get the right care, in the right place, at the right time.
She has detailed the urgent and emergency care services that are available to you across the South Eastern Trust.
"Our emergency department at the Ulster Hospital is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The department treats and cares for people with a serious illness or life threatening conditions.
"You should not go to an emergency department as an alternative to your GP calling 999 for an ambulance does not get you to the top of the emergency department queue. We must treat the sickest patients first, not the patients who get to the hospital first.
"The consultant-led minor injury unit at the Ulster Hospital can treat injuries that are not critical or life threatening. The minor injury unit is open 8am to 6pm, seven days a week. Patients can walk in or phone first for an appointment. The phone first service is available 8am to 6pm Monday to Friday."
Elsewhere the Phone First Urgent Care Centre at the Lagan Valley Hospital is a consultant-led service equipped to diagnose and deal with many of the most common ailments which people would normally attend in an emergency department.
It's open from 8am to 6pm Monday to Friday on an appointment only basis. You will be assessed and offered an appointment within the urgent care service or directed to the most appropriate service.
An Urgent Care Centre is also based in the Downe Hospital. It's consultant led and just like the Urgent Care Centre in Lagan Valley Hospital, it can deal with patients with ailments and conditions that affect people who attend the emergency department.
It's open from 8am to 6pm Monday to Friday on an appointment only basis. You will be triaged and offered an appointment within the Urgent Care Service or directed to the most appropriate service.
A minor injury unit also operates in the Downe Hospital on Saturdays and Sundays between 9am and 5pm. It is an emergency nurse led service that can see injuries that are not critical or life threatening.
Patients at the Downe Minor Injury Unit must phone first. You may be given an appointment or you may be redirected to the most appropriate service.
We hope this helps you find the right care for you or your loved ones. Remember in an emergency, always phone 999.
Video by South Eastern HSC Trust
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