Northamptonshire NHS launch campaign to keep pressure off A&E during World Cup

With excitement building up to the global tournament, which begins this weekend, Nene Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) has organised an Urgent Care campaign to educate young people in Daventry on the importance of choosing the right health care services for their needs, thereby reducing unnecessary strain on A&E departments.

The Nene CCG Daventry group will hold an event in Daventry town centre to reach out to 15-24 year olds on Thursday, June 19, coinciding with England’s game against Uruguay.

The initiative aims to dissuade young people from going straight to A&E with minor illnesses and injuries, which puts pressure on the departments and leads to longer waiting times.

Dr Matthew Davies, GP chair for the Daventry North Locality, said: “We are all willing England on for the World Cup and will be celebrating their success. Remember that if you are unfortunate enough to have a slip, sprain or hangover, you have got lots of options for care from what’s in the medicine cupboard at home, pharmacist advice, GP surgeries and 111, keeping A&E for serious problems.”

Global sporting events, such as the World Cup, create significant increases in levels of violence, domestic violence, anti-social behaviour and injuries, as well as higher levels of alcohol abuse, sun burn and dehydration.

The Urgent Care campaign aims to help people to make an informed choice of the appropriate NHS service for their unplanned healthcare needs, decrease inappropriate A&E attendance and raise awareness about this as an issue in general.

The Urgent Care outreach team will visit Slim Jim’s Sports Bar and Wetherspoons in Daventry on Thursday June 19 from 7-9pm. For more information visit: www.neneccg.nhs.uk/self-care.