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Warning sign for hospital’s emergency department

News imageGovernment of Jersey A picture of Jersey's emergency departmentGovernment of Jersey
The hospital said that 20% of patients seen in the past six months could have accessed healthcare elsewhere

People are being asked to only visit the hospital's emergency department with a "serious or life-threatening illness or injury".

In preparation for winter, a new sign with that message has been put up outside Jersey General Hospital's Emergency Department.

In the past six months some 20% of patients could have accessed healthcare elsewhere, the hospital said.

It also found that 3% of those patients required no treatment at all.

For issues other than emergencies, the public are asked to consider alternative services such as chemists, GP surgeries or out-of-hours GP services.

News imageGovernment of Jersey The hospital's new emergency signGovernment of Jersey
Every year about 40,000 people are treated at Jersey General Hospital's Emergency Department

Dr Masha Finn, clinical lead and a consultant in emergency medicine, said: "We just want to make sure the public are accessing the right services.

"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."

Every year about 40,000 people are treated in Jersey General Hospital's Emergency Department.

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