#HelpMyNHS

Call to action to HelpMyNHS

Local people are being called to action to help the NHS provide the best possible care this winter.

A campaign to ensure people are getting the right care at the right time, and are not putting NHS services under unnecessary strain, is being launched during #HelpMyNHS week from 27 November to 1 December.

The NHS is doing everything it can with the resources it has to prepare for the extra pressures we expect to face this winter. Now, #HelpMyNHS is calling on the public to play their part by adopting small behavioural changes to ease pressures on local health and care services, saving them for those in the most need. It asks people to:

  • #HelpMyA&E by highlighting the alternative services to A&E and when these should be used.
  • #HelpMyGP by using of GP appointments properly, take steps to help prevent getting ill and self-manage minor illnesses, as well as using alternative services, such as pharmacists.

The campaign is being launched as winter is expected to be extremely difficult for the NHS, especially on A&E departments and GP surgeries as they cope with increasing numbers of people seeking treatment. Nationally, one in four people are reported to go to A&E when they could have been treated elsewhere. Additionally, one in four people who visit their GP with a minor illness could have been treated at home with the help of a pharmacist.

A dedicated social media campaign, and website at www.sussexhelpmy.nhs.uk highlights these alternatives to A&E visits or GP appointments, and is tailored to include listings on services available to the public across Sussex.

Further Information