People urged to play their part as Middlesbrough emergency department faces record numbers
Staff at one of the North East's biggest emergency departments say they are dealing with record numbers of patients as they head into winter.
Over the past six weeks, there has been a significant rise in the numbers of patients arriving at The James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough.
An early spike in flu and other viruses is seen as one reason for the surge at the site which is seeing 450 people turn up every day for emergency or urgent care.
Kevin Moore, who is the clinical lead for urgent and emergency care on Teesside, summed up the scale of the task.
He said: "The primary concern is the capacity of emergency medicine to continue to deliver safe care for our patients."
Mr Moore explained: "The ability of the emergency department to offload those ambulances, and start their care, is becoming an increasing challenge and ultimately we need those ambulances to get back out into the community for people who desperately need them."
This year saw the opening of an urgent treatment centre (UTC) at James Cook, in a bid to take pressure off emergency teams.
UTCs provide care for patients with non-life threatening conditions such as broken bones, sprains, high temperatures and coughs.
Now, patients are streamed on arrival at the hospital, either towards the emergency department (ED) or the UTC, depending on the severity of their condition.
As part of her role, nurse practitioner Jo Blenkinsop is responsible for the streaming process.
She describes the new UTC as 'pivotal' for patients and staff.
"We're reducing pressures from the emergency department by being able to stream the minor illnesses and minor injuries to the urgent treatment centre," she said.
"That tends to make for a faster flow for patients through the department and to be assessed, seen and treated for their issues."
Since opening in the spring, the UTC has reduced the number of people attending the emergency department in Middlesbrough by a third.
Even so, the numbers of people arriving for treatment overall continues to grow.
Record numbers broken down
As of December 2024:
600 ambulances are arriving at The James Cook University Hospital each week
250 patients are treated every day in the emergency department
200 cases are seen in the urgent treatment centre every day
UTCs are now established in towns and cities across the North East.
At the same time, there is a growing emphasis on community services, to prevent patients needing hospital treatment at all.
For the third winter running, a series of 'hubs' have been established across the region, to provide tailored treatment for people with acute respiratory conditions.
As well as taking pressure off hospitals and GP practices, the hubs are seen as bringing an added benefit: preventing the spread of infection as people sit in busy waiting rooms.
With the prospect of winter viruses continuing to spread, the health service is also urging people to take advantage of free flu vaccinations, if eligible.
The jab is available on the NHS to a number of groups every winter, including people of 65 and above and those with certain health conditions.
In addition, people who qualify have until Friday 20th December 2024 to book a free Covid booster.
North East regional medical director and GP, Dr Robin Hudson, said: "The biggest thing you can do to help yourself is to actually come forward and have your vaccination."
He added: "It's the best way of protecting yourself and protecting your loved ones and those around you."
From a healthcare perspective, the new year is often regarded as the peak for winter pressures so frontline services are likely to remain under strain for weeks to come.
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