‘Don’t ignore the symptoms’ – Health bosses urge people to use hospitals if they need them

Senior health leaders from Tees Valley and County Durham have joined forces to send a message that hospitals are still open and people should not ignore symptoms that could be life-threatening.

Susan Green at Country Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust, Barney Green from South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Chris Wells at North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust have joined together to explain how hospitals are a different environment due to Covid-19, but still offer the same services.

The message clear – it is important for patients not to ignore symptoms that may require urgent attention, with Consultant Gastroenterologist, Chris Wells explaining that GP services are also available.

He said: “It is important that if you do have any concerns about your health that you contact your health care provider, GPs are open and link into our hospitals where necessary.

“It’s important not to ignore your symptoms, please do come forward.”

Susan Green, a Consultant Colorectal Surgeon, has talked through what measures the hospitals have put in place following the outbreak of Covid-19.

She added: “Our hospitals have put a lot of measures in place to reduce risk for patients. You will need to wear a mask, and you will need to socially distance.

"We would like to reassure patients that we have made our hospitals as safe as possible – with supplies of PPE, patient and staff testing where appropriate, patient self-isolation.”

Vascular Surgeon Barney Green explains that patient numbers are down since the coronavirus lockdown took effect in March.

He commented: “One really worrying thing we have noticed over the past three or four months is the significant number of drop off in people seeking help for urgent conditions.

“I think we can understand why that’s the case, people have been desperately worried about contracting coronavirus, and we can understand that.

“But cancer, heart attacks, strokes – these big life limiting conditions are really important to deal with.

"Don’t ignore the symptoms for fearing getting the virus.”

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