Warning sign for hospital’s emergency department

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.

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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