A NEW survey revealed 60 per cent of people attending A&E in Carlisle and Whitehaven had not attempted to see their GP first.

The North Cumbria Accident and Emergency Delivery Board asked Healthwatch Cumbria (HWC) to find out what reasons people were giving for going to the two A&E departments.

Around 240 people who has 'self-presented' were surveyed over two weeks.

HWC found that the vast majority had gone to A&E because of either an accident or illness, or had previously been to the hospital and were returning for further help or treatment.

But 60 per cent had not attempted to see their GP and said they felt A&E was the most appropriate service.

However comments were made that they would have gone to their GP if it was more convenient to get an appointment.

Three out of four people did not seek help anywhere else, excluding their GP.

HWC made eight recommendations following the survey, including: Ensuring the public are aware of GP appointment availability and opening hours; Providing information on the availability and opening hours of alternative urgent treatment and open access centres; Communicating what services are available.

NHS111 is available 24 hours to advise on the most appropriate health professionals.

Anna Stabler, Director of Nursing and Quality for NHS North Cumbria Clinical Commissioning Group and Interim Chief Nurse for North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust said: “We are grateful to Healthwatch for this very helpful piece of work looking at some of the peaks of attendances we were seeing in our A&E departments in Whitehaven and Carlisle. Talking to people using our services can only help us to improve how we respond to the needs of our community and support staff.

“We know our services have been very busy over the last few weeks and would urge people to choose wisely the services they need and remember NHS111 is available 24 hours to help you seek help from the most appropriate health professionals. A&E is really only for very serious emergencies.

“We are looking at the feedback from this study and are already responding to some of the suggestions including making more information available for people in A&E including the process when they are waiting.”

David Blacklock, CEO, of HWC said: “Healthwatch Cumbria was delighted to be asked to carry out this piece of work. People often talk to us about their experiences of A&E departments, both the successes and their frustrations. We hope our findings can help to shape a more effective and efficient service in the future."