The emergency departments at Conquest Hospital and Eastbourne District General Hospital are both very busy, with many of our junior doctors out on strike until Thursday this week (16 March).
Members of the public requiring NHS care are advised to think carefully about which service is most appropriate for their condition, and whether they can get the care they need from a service other than an emergency department. Due to our current pressures, people who attend our emergency departments with a non-emergency condition may be redirected to another, more appropriate service by our clinicians.
Joe Chadwick-Bell, Chief Executive of East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust, said:
“Our emergency departments remain open and are continuing to provide treatment and care for people with serious injuries and illnesses. These departments are under serious pressure; this is due to the impact on our services of the junior doctors’ strike. Junior doctors are a key part of how we deliver our services and make up a significant proportion of our medical workforce.
“We are prioritising patients who have serious health needs, and we would advise anyone with a less urgent condition to utilise other health services where they can. NHS 111 and your local pharmacist can advise on treatment for more minor ailments; if you need to be seen by a clinician, the urgent treatment centres and minor injuries units at Crowborough, Lewes and Uckfield are also available.”
