Cyber Attack: Shropshire patients urged to use alternatives to A&E

NHS services in Shropshire were among those hit by the international cyber attack it was confirmed today.

Health leaders in Shropshire are asking people with minor illnesses and injuries to use alternatives to A&E, to ease pressures as hospitals recover from the national incident affecting NHS IT systems. Only minor isolated issues have been reported in GP practices and they have applied their business continuity plans, and therefore patients will be able to access care as normal.

Although all clinical systems are now back online, we are asking people to access all NHS services wisely to allow the local system to focus on those people with serious conditions, who need to be seen urgently, as organisations return to normal working.  It will also prevent patients with non-critical illnesses from having long waits before they can be treated.

There a range of alternative services available across Shropshire for non-critical conditions, including GPs, Shropdoc, Minor Injuries Units, walk-in centres and pharmacies. However, the public are again being asked to give consideration to accessing health services over the next 48 hours to allow services to stabilise.

Dr Julian Povey, Chair at NHS Shropshire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), said: “As our hospitals return to normal following the incident which affected IT systems, I’d urge people to only go to A&E if they have a serious, life-threatening condition. This will help relieve the pressure.

“Other services available include Shropdoc on 0333 222 66 55, walk-in-centres, minor injuries units and pharmacists.

“By doing this, patients will help us, but also themselves by getting treated in the right place at the right time, which can ultimately be a quicker route to treatment.”