Nannying GP practices text patients urging them to take care in the heat: Warnings inform the public ‘it’s hot’ and that they should ‘drink lots of water’ and ‘stay out of the sun’
GP practices are texting patients to tell them to “drink lots of water” in hot weather.
Doctors sent out the warnings to inform the public that it is hot and to give advice such as ‘stay out of the sun’.
The reports were spread by NHS South-West London as hospitals struggled with record numbers of emergency rooms, partly caused by rising temperatures.
Officials said the warnings were in response to much younger patients presenting to hospitals with problems such as heat stroke, asthma and allergies exacerbated by the heat wave.
But the decision has been branded “nannying” and a waste of valuable resources when many patients struggle to get GP appointments.
Officials said the warnings were in response to much younger patients presenting to hospitals with problems such as heatstroke, asthma and allergies exacerbated by the heat wave
Last night, health chiefs urged the public to want the advice, as the ‘tips for coping with the heat wave’ website is currently visited about 3,000 times an hour
Greg Smith, Tory MP for Buckingham, said: ‘My constituents want to be able to see a GP quickly when they need it, get prompt care if they need a hospital referral or treatment and know about the best new medical technology and medicines. is purchased.
“What they don’t want, don’t need, and will be totally baffled about are valuable resources—their taxes—squandered on nanny texts that are damn obvious.”
Last night, health chiefs insisted the public wanted the advice, with the ‘tips for coping with the heat wave’ website currently being visited about 3,000 times an hour.
A spokesman said texting by the GP was “an effective way to give direct advice to locals” after many asked what to do in the heat.
The NHS has seen a rise in people presenting to hospitals with problems such as heat stroke, asthma and allergies, exacerbated by the heatwave
Due to the high pollen count and air pollution, the number of patients needing help with asthma and hay fever has increased enormously.
This surge in demand coincided with the latest round of strikes by health workers that began on Wednesday. Five South London hospitals have recorded record numbers of visitors to their emergency departments this week.
Among them are the three hospitals in South London’s St George’s, Epsom and St Helier group, which treated 1,250 patients on Monday. The average attendance is about 800.
NHS chief Amanda Pritchard warned the situation posed ‘a serious risk to patient safety’, while some trusts urged patients to stay away unless their condition is life-threatening.
Dr. John Byrne, medical director of NHS South West London, said: ‘People are experiencing high levels of pollen, pollution and heat in London this week.’
He added: “We have responded to local people’s requests for health advice, which also supports our hospitals that have seen record numbers of patients in the emergency room while managing strike action.”