NHS Ayrshire and Arran health chiefs are asking people to think twice before heading to accident and emergency departments due to the 'extreme pressures' they are facing.

They're asking Ayrshire residents whether they really need to head to A&E or if they could be treated somewhere else.

They suggest asking residents ask themselves 'Is it an emergency?', and if the answer is no, do not head to their emergency departments.

The health board is dealing with a cocktail of issues impacting their ability to function smoothly: high numbers of staff absence across the whole health and care system; high occupancy levels in hospitals; delayed transfers of care; and high volumes of frail and ill patients requiring complex care.

Professor Hazel Borland, Interim Chief Executive, said: “Our urgent and unscheduled care services in both University Hospitals Ayr and Crosshouse are under extreme pressure at this time.

“This is resulting in pressures across the whole urgent care system and can ultimately mean longer waits for telephone consultations; longer waits for assessment or reviews within primary and community care; delays to assessment in the Emergency Departments and Combined Assessment Units; delays to admission to wards; and delays to discharge.

“Our dedicated staff are working tirelessly to try and improve the situation under challenging conditions. We ask for your patience and support in these matters. We continue to triage patient presentations and will prioritise our patients based on clinical needs.

“While most patients coming through our Emergency Departments are ill and need to be there, we know that some people who attend our EDs would receive more appropriate and quicker treatment elsewhere.

“So, we are urging members of the public to stop, think, and ask ‘Is it an emergency?’ If it is an emergency, come straight to the Emergency Department.

“That way we can ensure that our Emergency Departments are there for those who need it most – those with life-threatening emergencies and injuries.”

If residents do attend one of NHS Ayrshire and Arran's emergency departments and their condition is not urgent, they will be redirected to a more appropriate service such as a GP surgery at a different time, NHS24, pharmacy, emergency dental service, pregnancy services, and sexual health services.

Professor Borland adds: “Redirecting patients to more appropriate services will help our Emergency Departments run more efficiently and patients will be seen quicker.

“If it’s not an emergency, call NHS 24 on 111 and you will be assessed over the telephone and referred to the right healthcare professional. We know that you may need to wait a while for your call to be triaged. However, calling NHS24 from the comfort of your own home can avoid unnecessary trips to the hospital and allow you to access care as close to home as possible.

“We want to make sure that the right patient is seen at the right time, at the right place, and by the right clinician. Our key message is to let people know the most appropriate time to visit an ED, and what are the available alternatives.”

Professor Borland adds: “Our staff are working extremely hard to care for those living in Ayrshire and Arran. I would like to take the opportunity to thank our staff for their continued efforts. I am immensely proud of and grateful to our staff who continually go above and beyond the call of duty to look after those who need our care.

“And so I would urge the public to please be patient, kind, and respectful towards our staff, who are working under very difficult circumstances. Thank you.”