Message from Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust
Information for the public: Please seek alternatives to ED for minor injuries and illnesses where possible
The NHS is doing all it can to make sure it is able to support all those who will need hospital treatment as a result of coronavirus (COVID-19).
Organisations across the NHS are taking a number of steps to prepare for increased demand and you may be redirected if you attend ED with a minor injury.
If you have a minor injury or illness, please do not attend our Emergency Department (ED) at Queen Alexandra Hospital (QA).
Instead, if you have a minor illness phone your GP practice or use the econsult function on your practice website.
If you have a minor injury, use one of these facilities, but, again, please phone first before attending.
- St Mary’s Urgent Treatment Centre, Milton, Portsmouth 0333 200 1822
Open from 7.30am to 10pm weekdays and 8am – 10pm weekends https://www.stmarystreatmentcentre.nhs.uk/utc/ - Petersfield Community Hospital Minor Injuries Unit 023 82 310595
Open seven days a week from 8am to 5.45pm https://www.southernhealth.nhs.uk/services/minor-injuries-units/ - Gosport War Memorial Hospital Minor Injuries Unit 023 92 794753
Open seven days a week from 8am to 11.15pm https://www.porthosp.nhs.uk/departments-and-services/gosport-minor-injuries-unit/96458
These urgent treatment centres and minor injuries units can help with a number of conditions including those below but you are advised to call ahead before attending.
- Cuts and grazes
- Sprains and strains
- Broken bones or fractures
- Bites and stings
- Infected wounds
- Minor head injuries
- Minor eye problems
If you have symptoms of COVID-19 (a high temperature or a new, continuous cough), please do not attend the Emergency Department or any of these other services.
Do not leave your home if you have either:
- a high temperature – this means you feel hot to touch on your chest or back (you do not need to measure your temperature)
- a new, continuous cough – this means coughing a lot for more than an hour, or 3 or more coughing episodes in 24 hours (if you usually have a cough, it may be worse than usual
Use the 111 online coronavirus service to find out more.
Our Emergency Department remains open. If you or someone you know is experiencing a medical emergency you/they can still attend our ED or alternatively please dial 999.
Medical emergencies can include:
- loss of consciousness
- an acute confused state
- fits that aren’t stopping
- chest pain
- breathing difficulties
- severe bleeding that can’t be stopped
- severe allergic reactions
- severe burns or scalds
Call 999 immediately if you or someone else is having a heart attack or stroke. Every second counts with these conditions.
Also call 999 if you think someone has had a major trauma, such as after a serious road traffic accident, a stabbing, a shooting, a fall from height, or a serious head injury.
