Public Urged To Help Ease Winter Pressure On Health Service

The public has been urged to take steps to help ease the pressure on Northern Ireland's health and social care services this winter.

Health Minister Mike Nesbitt today outlined practical ways individuals can support the system. These include using services appropriately, self-care, and cooperating with hospital discharge processes.

Nesbitt warned that the coming weeks are likely to be "extremely challenging" due to increased demand for care caused by seasonal illnesses like flu, RSV, COVID-19, and Norovirus.

He appealed to everyone to do their part to support health and care staff.

The Health Minister continued: "I want to really stress that if you believe you need emergency hospital care, then you should not hesitate to seek it. Emergency Departments will assess those who attend and prioritise treating the sickest quickest.

"However, if your case is not an emergency, then care and treatment is available from other parts of the Health and Social Care system. This includes community pharmacies, GPs, GP out of hours and minor injury units. Self care is also vitally important, not least in ensuring that conditions do not deteriorate to the point where hospital attendance is required. Even something as straightforward as not leaving it too late to get your repeat prescriptions can help make a difference. "Ensuring timely discharge from hospital for those who are well enough to leave is absolutely vital. This frees up beds for those waiting in Emergency Departments and ambulances who need urgent treatment and care. Staying in hospital when you no longer need to be there is certainly not good for your health.

"Vaccination provides you with vital protection against flu, Covid-19 and RSV. It also helps reduce pressure on our health services and hard pressed staff. If you are eligible for these vaccines and have not yet received them, my advice is please do not delay any further."

The Minister last month published a 2024/25 Winter Preparedness Plan, detailing a series of resilience initiatives. These include a Pharmacy First for Sore Throat Service that is now available from pharmacies across NI. This offers advice, clinical assessment and treatment for sore throats, without having to wait for a GP appointment.

A collection of Digital Adult Mental Health and Wellbeing resources have also been launched offering self-help tools. This includes a selection of carefully curated mental health and wellbeing apps on the HSC Apps Library offering valuable self-help information and advice for those seeking mental health support.

The apps can be accessed on the DHCNI website at: dhcni.hscni.net/hsc-apps-library/adult-mental-health-and-well-being

Lifeline, Northern Ireland’s crisis response helpline for people experiencing distress or despair, is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, every day of the year. The number is 0808 808 8000.