One in five visits to Jersey A&E 'unnecessary' over last six months

New signs have been put up outside Jersey's Emergency Department to try and curb the number of patients visiting who don't need emergency treatment. Credit: ITV Channel / Government of Jersey

One in five patients who visited Jersey's A&E department over the last six months didn't need to, according to the island's Health Department.

Every year, around 40,000 people are cared for in the Emergency Department at the General Hospital.

But Health officials say that in the last six months, around 20% of patients seen in ED didn't need any "essential" treatment.

Clinical Lead, Dr Masha Finn said: “Last year, we had lots of people attending the Emergency Department for non-essential reasons.

"We treated the most minor issues ranging from a cold to patients stopping by the Emergency Department to get a check-up before they go on holidays.”

One in 33 people who visited the department didn't need any treatment at all.

New signs have been put up outside the Emergency Department to try and encourage people to only visit in a genuine emergency.

In a bid to remind islanders that they should only visit the department in a genuine emergency, new signs have been put at the entrance.

For instances that aren't considered a “serious or life-threatening illness or injury” the government is keen for islanders to consider alternative services such as the pharmacy, GP or out-of-hours GP service.

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