HELP for patients requiring urgent and emergency care is still available across Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin while health experts deal with the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

Although the advice for most people remains ‘Stay at Home’, medical care is still available through GP surgeries and the emergency departments at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital (RSH) and the Princess Royal Hospital (PRH) in Telford.

Dr Arne Rose, medical director at SaTH, which runs RSH and PRH, said: “While the general advice is to stay at home as much as possible, and while we do have restrictions on visiting to our hospitals, it is important that people who need emergency care get that care as soon as possible.

“Some people may think that they are doing the right thing by not contacting their GP or not coming to A&E, but they could actually be making things worse for themselves in the long run.

“Our emergency departments are only for serious injury, severe illness or medical emergencies but, throughout this outbreak, they remain open and to ready help.”

Emergency Departments at RSH and PRH remain open for patients who have suffered a serious injury, severe Illness or a medical emergency.

An emergency is a critical or life-threatening situation, such as:

· loss of consciousness

· acute confused state and fits that are not stopping

· persistent, severe chest pain

· persistent, severe abdominal pain

· breathing difficulties

· swelling, redness or pain around a cut or wound and a very high or low temperature

· severe bleeding that cannot be stopped

· severe allergic reactions

· severe burns or scalds

Choking, chest pain, blacking out, blood loss and fractures are all considered emergencies and those with these symptoms should not hesitate to visit the emergency department.