Coronavirus news from our partners: SaTH services still available for urgent and emergency care

News from our partners Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust (SaTH)

Help for patients requiring urgent and emergency care is still available across Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin, while health experts deal with the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

Although the advice for most people remains ‘Stay at Home’, medical care is still available through GP surgeries and the Emergency Departments at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital (RSH) and the Princess Royal Hospital (PRH) in Telford.

Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust logo

Emergency Departments at RSH and PRH remain open for patients who have suffered a serious injury, severe illness or a medical emergency.

An emergency is a critical or life-threatening situation, such as:

• loss of consciousness
• acute confused state and fits that are not stopping
• persistent, severe chest pain
• persistent, severe abdominal pain
• breathing difficulties
• swelling, redness or pain around a cut or wound, and a very high or low temperature
• severe bleeding that cannot be stopped
• severe allergic reactions
• severe burns or scalds.

Choking, chest pain, blacking out, blood loss and fractures are all considered emergencies, and those with these symptoms should not hesitate to visit the Emergency Department.

Dr Arne Rose, Medical Director at The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust (SaTH), which runs RSH and PRH, said:

“Whilst the general advice is to Stay at Home as much as possible, and whilst we do have restrictions on visiting our hospitals, it is important that people who need emergency care get that care as soon as possible.

“Some people may think that they are doing the right thing by not contacting their GP or not coming to A&E, but they could actually be making things worse for themselves in the long run.

“Our Emergency Departments are only for serious injury, severe illness or medical emergencies but, throughout this outbreak, they remain open and to ready help.”

GP practices are still operating, but patients must not turn up at their practice without an appointment.

NHS logo

Nicky Wilde, Director of Primary Care for Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin CCGs, said:

“Anyone with coronavirus-related symptoms must contact NHS 111 online, or then NHS 111, in the first instance: however, GP practices are still open, and during this pandemic crisis we are asking patients not to turn up at their practice without a pre-booked appointment, and to contact their practice by telephone.”

Patients will be asked a set of questions to ensure that they are referred to the best healthcare professional to help.

Further information can be found by visiting www.shropshireccg.nhs.uk/news/important-information-for-patients-booking-appointments-at-gp-practices-during-the-coronavirus-outbreak/

There is also lots of information on a whole range of health issues and conditions online at 111.nhs.uk along with details on how to treat symptoms and where to get help.

Further information 

Keep informed and sign up to our daily Coronavirus email updates 

Shropshire Council wants to keep you as up to date and informed as possible. To help us do this, we have developed a coronavirus update, that will be sent daily at 8pm via email to anyone who has signed up to our e-bulletins. 

This update includes the day’s key Shropshire Council news, and some key news from our partners, relating to coronavirus-linked issues.  Please click here to sign up for the updates.  

Please do encourage your family and friends to sign up to the updates too. This will help us keep everyone up to date with the rapidly-evolving crisis.