Help us as we start 2025 with exceptional demand on our services and staff

We’re starting 2025 with exceptional demand upon our services and staff. Here’s what you can do to help:

1. Make the right start to 2025. No-one wants to spend the first days of the New Year in the waiting room of an emergency department or in the back of an ambulance. The NHS is extremely busy this week so if you end up visiting an emergency department with a less serious illness or injury, it’s likely you’ll wait a long time to be seen as we treat those with urgent and life-threatening health issues.
    
2. Follow the advice and wear a mask. When you visit an NHS setting you’ll be asked to take certain steps to reduce the spread of illnesses, such as wearing a mask in all our hospitals, washing your hands or using hand sanitiser. They may seem like small things, but they make a big difference.
    
3. Make good choices! Whether it’s thinking carefully about the NHS service that is best for you (for instance, only visiting an emergency department if it’s an emergency), choosing to get vaccinated, or committing to a meaningful, sustainable lifestyle change (such as taking daily exercise) making choices that are appropriate for you and your health is one way you get the care you need, stay healthy, and help the NHS care for those who need us most.
    
4. Get vaccinated! If you’re eligible for vaccinations against flu or COVID don’t miss out. Getting vaccinated is the single most effective thing you can do to prevent yourself becoming ill and suffering the worst effects of these viruses.
    
5. Visit responsibly. Cases of flu, COVID, and illnesses like Norovirus (the winter vomiting bug) are on the increase. These viruses can be dangerous for vulnerable patients in hospitals, and can cause staff shortages. If you think you have a virus, or have recently spent time with someone who has a virus, avoid visiting a hospital unless absolutely necessary.

01/01/2025