A new Scottish Government campaign is encouraging Scots to seek ‘appropriate’ medical care and hopes to stop visits to emergency departments returning to pre-pandemic levels.

People are being asked to get help for non-life-threatening conditions from places like their local pharmacy, GP practice and local minor injuries unit, instead of going to A&E.

They can also use NHS 24 to get help and advice, Scotland’s Health Secretary said today, as she urged individuals not to head straight to an emergency department.

Earlier in the pandemic there were fears over the number of people seriously ill with non-covid conditions but who were reluctant to seek help.

Since then, however, emergency medics have expressed concerns over a ‘return to normal’ as lockdown restrictions ease.

The Royal College of Emergency Medicine told healthandcare.scot last month there was a ‘moral imperative’ to ensure hospitals – and particularly emergency departments – never become overcrowded again.

The College’s Dr David Chung said today that now “we have got the balance right” and that people needing emergency care were no longer staying away.

But he added the public had to continue to use emergency services “in a sensible way” to prevent new covid-19 infections arising.

He said individuals should make sure they access the service they really need, rather than the one that happens to be open.

The campaign launched today – titled ‘Should you go to A&E?’ – aims to make sure people continue to get the ‘right care in the right place’.

“During this first phase of the pandemic you have followed our guidance closely and when you needed medical care you used your local pharmacy, GP practice, local minor injuries unit or you called NHS 24 for medical and mental health advice and help,” the Health Secretary said in a public address today.

Meanwhile minor illnesses can be treated in local high street pharmacies.

Community Pharmacy Scotland’s Matt Barclay says he wants people to think “Pharmacy First”:

He says pharmacists can “appropriately support patients through advice, referral if necessary or treatment.”

“By doing this we know we can support patients and the wider NHS by playing our part as accessible healthcare professionals, making sure people receive the right care in the right place.”

Speaking earlier today, Jeane Freeman said: “As we safely and carefully resume NHS Scotland, we need you to continue to do this. We need you to continue to access the right care you need and in the right place.

“While the NHS is there for you, we don’t all need to go to accident and emergency as for many of us, it is not the right place for the care we need. Sometimes self-help may be the quickest way to resolve your health problem.”

“…In an emergency you should always call 999 or go to your nearest A&E department. By continuing to do what we have been doing throughout this pandemic, we will continue to help our doctors and nurses, and ensure accident and emergency provides the fastest and often lifesaving care for people when they really need it.”

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