Due to a lack of resources and overstretched services, the Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospital Trust is urging local residents to use alternative services to alleviate pressure from the Accident & Emergency departments of both Queen's and King Georges Hospitals.
The Trust is currently working hard to create sufficient bed capacity to accommodate the increasing amount of patients being admitted through the Emergency Departments. Whilst senior staff are ensuring that patients remain safe and receive the best care possible in the circumstances, there is still a capacity issue. The Trust have suggested that many patients could be seen more quickly and appropriately at a walk-in centre, by a GP or by a pharmacist. This would also help to address the current A&E crisis.
The Chief Executive of BHRUT has stated that the "London Ambulance Service have been helpful but are unable to divert to other hospitals as all of our local Trusts are in a similar position." A website has been set up to help direct residents to the services best suited to their needs. The website is called Not Always A and E ? it is a simple to use tool which assesses the issue and using a simple postcode check it can direct you to an alternative service. The website can be found here: http://www.notalwaysaande.co.uk/
Jon Cruddas MP for Dagenham & Rainham commented: "Our local NHS is an ongoing issue. I know that the Trust and the Clinical Commissioning Groups, along with NHS England are all working together to make improvements, but the bottom line is investment. Following the Tory-led reorganisation of our health service local facilities have been struggling to meet standards ? this is the same story across the country.
"I'm encouraging residents of Dagenham & Rainham to use the new website to help all service users to receive the best care possible until the capacity issue is resolved."