NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde is urging patients not to visit A&E departments at their hospitals 'unless it is life threatening'.
The health board said their emergency departments are 'extremely busy' in a post shared on Facebook on Sunday.
We've reported on the NHS advising people not to use A&E unless absolutely essential over the past week, while also telling of ambulances facing a four-hour wait to drop off patients at Glasgow's Queen Elizabeth University Hospital.
Yesterday, NHSGGC re-iterated the call on social media, commenting: "Our emergency departments remain extremely busy. Please do not attend unless it's life threatening. Thank you for your patience and understanding.
"Please help us by sharing this important message."
The post prompted a flurry of comments and a debate as to whether the issue centres around a perceived unavailability of GPs, with several claiming the lack of face-to-face appointments with their local doctor's surgery is leading people to go to hospital for treatment instead.
One user said: "Perhaps if GP's were prepared to see their patients, face to face, like all other frontline workers have been, A& E wouldn’t be stretched to their limit like this, it’s not fair on them."
This was backed up by another who commented: "Get the GP’s off the telephones and into surgeries."
However, this was challenged by people claiming people are not using the NHS and GP services correctly.
One person said: "Everyone saying GPs aren't open, please stop. You're having a negative effect on the whole system, either by people not getting in contact with their GP, or going to A&E inappropriately as the alternative.
"They are open and if they feel you need seen face to face then they will."
When asked for comment, a NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde spokesperson said: "Nationally, we are seeing a very significant demand on health services including Emergency Departments and receiving units which are seeing an increased number of patients with a broad range of conditions.
"This means our clinical staff are extremely busy caring for those additional patients as well as those presenting with COVID whilst at the same time maintaining enhanced infection control precautions for all.
"The weekend was particularly busy for our EDs and for that reason we made another appeal for people to consider if their situation really is one which should be dealt with at ED, as opposed to an out of hours GP or a specialist at one of our Minor Injury Units.
|In line with all health boards in Scotland, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde has implemented the Right Care, Right Place model of care, which means that anyone who thinks they or a loved one needs emergency treatment, should call NHS24 on 111 to access the right care.
"Only call 999, or attend an Emergency Department, if you think the condition is life-threatening.
"GP practices continue to see patients through a mixture of face-to-face, telephone and video consultation. Face to face appointments are provided where clinically necessary. Patients who wish to speak to their GP or another member of the practice team should continue to contact the practice directly.
"Outside of normal practice opening hours, if patients think they need to see a GP and it cannot wait until the practice reopens, they should call NHS24 on 111 for advice and next steps."
