NHS Lanarkshire urge those requiring medical treatment to contact NHS 24 instead of attending hospital

dailyrecord.co.uk:

People requiring medical treatment are being urged to contact NHS 24 instead of attending hospital - unless it’s an emergency.That was the guidance issued by the under pressure health board, who say they are experiencing "exceptional demand" at the moment.The regions three main hospitals are prioritising patients who need urgent care, resulting in some patients waiting up to 12 hours to be seen by medical staff.The Lanarkshire Live app is available to download now.

Get all the news from your area – as well as features, entertainment, sport and the latest on Lanarkshire’s recovery from the coronavirus pandemic – straight to your fingertips, 24/7.The free download features the latest breaking news and exclusive stories, and allows you to customise your page to the sections that matter most to you.Head to the App Store and never miss a beat in Lanarkshire - iOS - Android Judith Park, NHS Lanarkshire director of acute services, told Lanarkshire Live: "We are prioritising patients in urgent need.“Our hospitals are experiencing exceptional demand at present. “We are urging the public to call NHS 24 on 111 if it is not an emergency. "By accessing the right care at the right place, we can keep emergency departments free for those with emergency care needs.”The NHS is also urging the families of relatives in the hospital who are ready to be discharged to consider bringing them home for a temporary period to help ease pressure and create more space.The NHS acute director added: “The Omicron variant is having a negative impact on many of our health services and this pressure is increasing.“We continue to face staffing challenges across health services and we are deploying staff from other areas to ensure our services can deliver