NHS Lancashire and South Cumbria ICB update on system pressures (30 December 2022)

Lancashire and South Cumbria’s NHS services are once again reporting significant and increasing pressure due to the number of seriously unwell people attending hospitals as we approach the New Year bank holiday weekend.

We are urging members of the public to use NHS 111 Online to ensure they are signposted to the correct service for them. Accessing the right care at the right time means the NHS can be there for people who need us most this winter.

NHS 111 Online can tell you:

• Where to get help for your symptoms, if you're not sure what to do
• How to find general health information and advice
• Where to get an emergency supply of your prescribed medicine
• How to get a repeat prescription

In Lancashire and South Cumbria, we are experiencing a sustained increase in demand for all NHS services – including exceptionally high numbers of people attending emergency departments (A&E) and GP practices. As always, all NHS staff are working hard to make sure patients are seen in order of clinical need.

Our priority, as always, is to ensure safe and high-quality care for people in Lancashire and South Cumbria. Hospitals and our community services, including staff across ambulance services, nursing, pharmacy, primary care and general practice, along with other colleagues in local council adult social care, are doing all they can to meet people’s needs.

It is essential that people who need urgent medical care continue to come forward – especially in emergency and life-threatening cases, when someone is seriously ill or injured or their life is at risk. However, if you do have to attend hospital please do not expect to be seen straight away and be patient with staff, they will be monitoring you and if your condition worsens while waiting please let them know. Due to the potential of a long wait please be prepared and bring any medications with you as well as some money for food and drink and if you have a portable phone charger then bring that with you too.

Do you need to call 999? Typical emergencies include cardiac arrest, loss of consciousness, fits that aren’t stopping, breathing difficulties, severe bleeding, severe allergic reactions and serious head injuries. If you have already called 999 to request an ambulance, please only call back if your condition has worsened or to cancel the ambulance. Repeatedly calling 999 can block phone lines for other emergencies.

More information about when to call 999 and when to go to A&E is available via the national NHS website.