The NHS in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough join forces to tackle unprecedented pressure on the system. NHS Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), the body responsible for commissioning many NHS health services across the area, released a statement yesterday (Tuesday) on the pressures facing hospitals and community services in the region:

Dr Neil Modha, Chief Clinical Officer for the CCG, said: “We’re seeing unprecedented demand at our hospitals across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough. Attendance at Emergency Departments in particular are up in every hospital and all hospitals have patients who are awaiting discharge but require health or social care in the community. Social care and community health services are also under pressure as they support increasingly more complex patients in the community to enable people to retain their independence and avoid hospital admissions or leave hospital earlier where clinically appropriate.

“This is a challenge for the NHS under huge stress – but we want to reassure patients that all NHS leaders are working together to manage this exceptionally busy time and ensure that patient care remains high quality throughout.

“We are asking that the public consider where they go when they are feeling unwell and only use A&E or 999 when they are acutely unwell or have a life-threatening condition.

“The public can see their GP, or use the local Minor Injury or Illness units or walk-in centres. If their GP practice is closed they should contact the Out of Hours GP service first (by calling 111), or seek advice from a local pharmacist who are also there to help. If people are not sure where best to go they should call NHS 111 and will receive advice and direction about the best place to be seen.”