 In total, more than 74,000 people attended Royal Bolton Hospital's emergency department between 1 April and 19 October 2022. Now, health chiefs have urged patients to use the service appropriate for their condition, such as a pharmacist, walk-in centre, or GP. Imran Khan, urgent care lead at the trust, said: "What we have to do is prioritise patients in terms of their clinical condition. "People may wait longer if their condition is not as serious as someone else's, or be directed to another more appropriate service. The trust has issued a warning to patients to go to A&E in an emergency ( Manchester Evening News) "We have seen an increase in the number of patients who come with conditions that could be managed at home. "During summer we had someone turn up with chapped lips, and someone else with a verruca - both things which could've been seen by a pha){kind=link}
Health chiefs at Bolton NHS Foundation Trust have issued a stern warning to patients to not come to A&E with a minor condition as hospitals continue to struggle ahead of winter
An NHS hospital in Manchester has warned its patients that they must use the right service for their condition as people arrived at A&E with minor conditions.
Among the conditions were a verruca and chapped lips, needless to say neither of which is an appropriate condition to go to A&E with.
Now, bosses at Bolton NHS Foundation Trust, which is responsible for the Royal Bolton Hospital, have warned people that they must only use A&E if it is an emergency, the Manchester Evening News reports.
Already stretched waiting times are being exacerbated by people demanding treatment for injuries and illnesses which could be treated at home.