Unless it’s an emergency the GP should be your first choice

Unless it’s an emergency the GP should be your first choice

Hawke’s Bay Hospital is extremely busy and patients attending the Emergency Department may be faced with long delays.

Unless it is an emergency, such as chest pain, people with minor ailments and injuries should seek medical help from their GP, who may then make referrals to ED if it’s required.

Chief executive Kevin Snee said there had been a number of people who presented to ED with minor ailments over the holiday period who should have seen their GP first, rather than placing more pressure on an extremely busy Emergency Department which was dealing with acute traumas and extremely unwell patients.

On Monday 165 patients were seen and there have been well over 100 patients seen most days over the Christmas period - the department on average would normally treat between 90-110 patients a day.

Dr Snee urged people to see their GP first unless it was an emergency.

Visitors to Hawke’s Bay can call 0800 33 88 99 for details of seven day GP services.
ENDS

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