A new campaign urging young people in Northamptonshire to check whether they really need to go to A&E has launched today.

The campaign, being run by the local NHS, features social media advertising and face-to-face outreach events, is targeting 16-29 year olds of Northamptonshire. Activities include a scratch card test to raise awareness of where young people should go for various illnesses and health complaints. A viral video has also been developed to support the campaign demonstrating common scenarios where patients have found themselves in A&E when they could have accessed alternative services, click here to watch it. 

Dr Kamal Sood, Clinical Director at NHS Nene CCG, said: “It is really important that people only go to A&E for serious or life-threatening emergencies. Too often people go to A&E when they are ill or have an accident outside GP practice hours, believing it to be the best and only place they can go. But this is wrong. 

“There are many other local NHS services that can provide the professional help and advice you need, whether it’s at night, during the evening, or at the weekend. We have health professionals on hand outside normal GP surgery hours. Just call 111 who will help direct you to the most appropriate service you need.” 

Convenient health services include your local pharmacy which can provide you with quick, professional advice on the right treatment for minor illnesses and injuries. They can also provide you with prescription medication and talk you through how to use it safely all without needing an appointment. 

Sue Smith, Head of Prescribing and Medicines Management, at NHS Nene CCG, said: “The best care is often self-care. We all get ill and suffer bumps and scrapes from time to time – so it’s a good idea to have a first aid kit at home and stock up with self-care medicines for common coughs and colds. Pharmacists are experts in medicines and can give you confidential advice without an appointment.”

Dr Sood, added: “We want to help young people of Northamptonshire get the right care, at the right time, in the right place. Our campaign does this in many ways including working with our frontline staff to help young people to better understand where to go when they are ill or hurt. No one likes to sit in a hospital waiting for treatment if they can help it. So before you go to A&E, ask yourself, is A&E for me? We have local self-care guides for this age group that can be found here”

For more information on choose well and the alternative services available to A&E, click here.