NHS Western Isles and Comhairle nan Eilean Siar are appealing to our local communities, who demonstrated resilience and goodwill at the same time last year, to help protect and preserve our health and social care services during the autumn and winter months ahead.
Health and social care services across the country are already experiencing extreme pressure on services for a variety of reasons, and we are appealing to our local communities to do what they can to support their own local services. That could include a range of measures – from avoiding unnecessary attendance at already stretched Emergency Departments; to helping to provide additional support to friends and relatives who require care or assistance at home. We can all play our part to help.
The resources we have on the Western Isles are finite and taking simple steps to help us avoid pressure will benefit the wider community and ensure that the services remain available and responsive for those who need them. Western Isles Health and Social Care Partnership Chief Officer, Nick Fayers, explained: “Already this year we are seeing unprecedented pressure on community health and social care systems nationally – and this is reflected in the Western Isles too.
We need our services to be preserved and protected to ensure that those in greatest need receive the necessary care and support as quickly as possible. “In the community and in social care, we have seen a higher number of people requiring more nursing and social care input at home than usual. Staff absence and a number of vacant posts that are proving challenging to fill, together with recruitment difficulties, means that these services are very stretched. “We want to be upfront with our communities about not only the current pressures, but also the real challenge facing us over coming months as additional winter pressures approach. The good news is that there are ways everyone can help, and our assurance to you is that services will be there for those who need them.
” Help safeguard your local services…
* Only attend the Emergency Department if your condition is left-threatening, e.g. conditions including suspected heart attacks or strokes, severe breathing difficulties, severe bleeding, or severe injury should continue to attend the ED or call 999.
* Your GP Practice is open. You can contact your local GP practice during the day for an appointment (may be virtual in the first instance) or over-the-phone advice.
* Call 111 day or night when you think you have a non-life-threatening, but urgent, issue.
* If you have friends or family in receipt of care at home or a care package – try and help where you can – whether by assisting with medication, helping with meals, or assisting with getting up and going to bed. This will help reduce the current significant pressure on social care services.
* Where available, attend your local pharmacy for questions on medication.
* Call 111 and select the Mental Health Hub to access mental health advice and guidance or call the Breathing Space telephone helpline on 0800 83 85 87.
* If you have queries about symptoms, use the NHS inform website to access advice on common symptoms, guidance for self-help and where to go if further medical care is needed.
