Demand at Weston General Hospital

News - 8 January 2015

There is ongoing demand on services at Weston General Hospital with people being asked to think before coming to the hospital. The hospital remains very busy and they are asking people to only attend if absolutely necessary and a medical emergency.
Ambulance outside an Accident & Emergency department

NOROVIRUS
Three wards remain closed to Norovirus – UPHILL, BERROW and KEWSTOKE wards. They are closed to new admissions.

EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT (ED)
People who are experiencing minor illnesses are being asked to seek alternative help by:
•    Calling NHS 111
•    Make a GP appointment
•    Seek advice from a pharmacist

This weekend some people attended the hospital’s Emergency Department with minor illnesses that didn’t require urgent medical attention including Norovirus symptoms, coughs and colds, sore throats. These ailments can be treated with self care or counter medication.

DEMAND
To cope with demand, the hospital has opened 20 beds in the stroke and maternity units. Patient care for stroke and maternity patients remain as normal.

Ashcombe stopped accepting admissions over the weekend but that has now returned to normal. Any woman having a baby booked into Weston can expect to have her baby here.
The ward has been split between midwifery and medical and is female only. Nurses and midwives are looking after separate patients.

REMINDER

We continue to ask people to only come to the hospital if absolutely essential.

 

Weston Area Health Trust Chief Executive, Nick Wood, wanted to give thanks to staff for their hard work during the unprecedented period of demand.

I would like to personally thank all the staff who worked tirelessly last weekend to help care for the unprecedented number of people who came to our hospital. All the nurses, doctors, assistants and other staff members who have worked extra hours, longer shifts to make sure that patients were looked after. My sincere thanks to you all.

Nick Wood, Chief Executive of Weston General Hospital

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