Urgent and emergency care

It is important to make it easier for people access urgent and emergency care in the right place when they need it. Better availability and use of alternative appropriate services for those who need urgent, but not life-threatening care will lead to better experience and outcome for those using those services. By reducing pressure on Emergency Departments it will also lead to better experience and outcome for those who need the highest level of care and support.

Many people still attend Emergency Departments when they could have been treated within other health care settings, such as a minor injury unit, by primary care out-of-hours services (including NHS 111 Wales) or in many cases by planned care services in less urgent settings. Signposting, alongside ensuring adequate timely access within planned care services, continue to be important in reducing avoidable demand upon urgent and emergency care services.

Plans to improve Same Day Emergency Care Services and expand the use of community pharmacy services as an alternative to urgent care GP and hospital services are among the steps being taken to help get the care and support they need without avoidable delays.