Tweet campaign will lift the lid on A&E services

Details of conditions and injuries being treated in A&E at Leeds General Infirmary will given in live Tweets between 3pm-7pm on Wednesday.

The initiative is a national Twitter campaign to persuade people to use services appropriate to their health problems. Staff will give details about alternatives that could have been used by patients.

Steve Bush, clinical director for Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, said: “This will be the first time that a national social media approach has been used to educate local people about using the emergency department appropriately. We hope the insight into a typical midweek evening in the emergency department gives people a chance to understand why we need them to make the most of other local services such as minor injury units, GPs or their local pharmacy.”

It is estimated 2m A&E patients could treat themselves or go elsewhere for help each year.