Public Urged to ‘Make the Right Choice’ to Relieve High Pressure on Surrey Hospitals

Published on: 4 Jan, 2025
Updated on: 6 Jan, 2025

Health leaders are encouraging the Surrey public to help make sure emergency care is available to those who need it by using the right service.

The call comes as flu admissions across the county increase and pressures on hospitals continue to rise with a cold weather warning in place over the weekend and into next week.

The Met Office issued an amber cold-health alert for the South East from January 2 to January 8 meaning forecasted weather is likely to cause significant impact across health and social care services.

All hospitals across Surrey are reporting extremely high levels of demand with the public urged to only attend Accident and Emergency Departments for serious illnesses, accidents, or life-threatening emergencies.

Joint Chief Medical Officer for Surrey Heartlands NHS, Professor Andrew Rhodes, said: “Services across Surrey Heartlands are already seeing increasing demand due to soaring flu admissions and with the cold weather warning in place the pressures on our services and hospitals are expected to increase over the coming days.

“We and encouraging the public to make the right choice and contact the right service for their health needs.  As pressures on hospital services increase across the county, and with a cold health alert now in place until next Wednesday, we are asking the public to help us make sure emergency care is available to those who need it most by using the right service for their health needs.”

People in Surrey are also being encouraged to look out for their elderly neighbours and check in on any vulnerable friends or relatives.

Professor Rhodes continued: “Cold weather can make existing health problems worse particularly for the older population. Keeping warm is essential and can not only help prevent colds and flu but also more serious health problems such as heart attacks, strokes and pneumonia.”

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