Local NHS get ‘Out and About’ this Winter, to urge people to “Think which Service”

Local Integrated Care System community engagement teams are travelling the breadth of the county to promote the ‘Think which Service’ campaign which urges people to access services appropriately and opt for ‘convenient self-care’ where it is safe to do so, as hospitals and other services face massive pressure over the winter months.

The ‘Think which Service’ community engagement teams, supported by a large advertising van, will be offering local people the chance to talk to about where to get care and treatment for a range of different conditions, and how to stay well over the winter period.

To celebrate the launch of the campaign, on Wednesday 18 October the team were in Shrewsbury Square, and had a successful day speaking to hundreds of local people about the range of health and care services available to Shrewsbury residents.

Future locations include:

• Friday 17 November - Ludlow
• Friday 8 December – Whitchurch

With dates to follow in Telford and Wrekin in the new year.

Melanie Thompson, GP at Woodside Medical Practice in Telford, said: “We know that it can be difficult to look after your health properly over winter, however there are a number of small steps you can take to keep yourself and your loved ones well”

“As a part of our campaign, we are really looking forward to getting out into the heart of our communities and spending time helping people understand the options they have for seeing a qualified health care professional fast in their local area, without the need to wait at A&E.”

Councillor Cecilia Motley, Cabinet Member for adult social care, public health and communities at Shropshire Council said:

“We want to ensure that our residents have access to the right information, advice and support that will help them remain safe and well throughout the winter months. From our recently launched Winter Support Service which aims to help people avoid a health and social care crisis, to cost of living advice and encouraging people to take up their winter vaccinations.

“Community engagement is an important part of our plans for helping local residents stay well this winter and is a priority for all of the organisations within our Integrated Care System.

“There are lots of small steps that people can take during the colder months, and we’d encourage people to come and see our colleagues at NHS Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin when they are out and about over the coming months.”

In Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin each year, more than 130,000 people turn up at A&E departments. While many of these patients require care from A&E staff, more than two thirds (63%) of A&E attendances last year could have been effectively treated elsewhere in the system, such as at a Minor Injury Unit or by a pharmacist. The campaign, launched in October aims to help raise awareness of which services are available and, importantly, when to use each one.

Your local authority offers a range of support and services to keep you healthy and well: Healthy Shropshire | Shropshire Council and Healthy Telford - Telford & Wrekin Council.  For further information about ‘Think which Service’, visit: http://www.thinkwhichservice.co.uk