Expect long waits at A&E

This article is from 3 January 2023

Expect long waits at Emergency Departments (A&E) at all hospitals in the Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West area.

This includes our Emergency Departments at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford and at the Horton General Hospital in Banbury.

Rachael Corser, Chief Nursing Officer at the BOB Integrated Care Board said: "We want to keep as many frontline clinicians available to treat people who are ill and need help urgently. So please help us by ensuring you do whatever you can to reduce the pressure on our services.

"Our focus is on making sure patients are safe and that critical services keep running. All partners in the NHS, social care and our voluntary organisations are working together so people who need to come into hospital can be admitted safely, and people who are medically fit to leave can be discharged safely.

"We are monitoring this situation very closely and as always we remain committed to providing the best possible care for patients. Thank you for your support and understanding at this challenging time."

In a personal message to all Oxford University Hospitals (OUH) staff, Sara Randall (Chief Operating Officer), Andrew Carter (Deputy Chief Nursing Officer) and Dr Anny Sykes (Chief Medical Officer) said: "We are working closely with our health and social care partners to enable as many safe discharges from our hospitals as possible, so that patients who are medically fit to leave hospital are able to do so.

"We would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who has been working so tremendously hard over the last few weeks when it has been exceptionally challenging.

"We would like to remind you all about the support for your wellbeing that is available to you. We know that this is a particularly stressful period, and there are resources available to support your physical and mental wellbeing.

"Thank you for caring for our patients and for each other as members of our OneTeamOneOUH."

Help us to help you - how you can support your local NHS

• Only call 999 in the event of a serious or life-threatening emergency
• Visit 111.nhs.uk or call 111 if you need urgent medical help and are not sure what to do
• Be ready to collect your family or loved ones from hospital as soon as they are medically well enough to leave
• Do not come to our Emergency Departments unless it is a genuine emergency
• Use your local Pharmacy if you can - they can help with a range of minor health issues including colds, skin problems and earaches

Please see here for a short video about making best use of NHS 111 online and Pharmacy services to #HelpUsHelpYou 

Pictured - text in the image reads:

• Minor cuts and grazes, colds, bruises, minor sprains - self care: stock up on medicines
• Minor illnesses, headaches, bites and stings, stomach upsets - Pharmacy
• Feeling unwell? Anxious? Unsure? Need help? - NHS 111: you can call us 24/7
• Long term conditions, chronic pain, persistent symptoms - GP advice
• Dislocated fingers and toes, minor scalds and burns, nose bleeds - Minor Injuries Unit: contact 111
• Serious bleeding, blacking out, choking, chest pain - A&E or 999: emergencies only