People are being urged to support NHS mums who will miss spending time with loved ones this Mother's Day as Swindon's healthcare staff face significant pressures across NHS services this weekend. 

The pressures felt by local hospital teams, GP practice staff, ambulance crews and out-of-hours clinicians are expected to intensify this weekend as the clinical commissioning group predicts an "extremely busy Mother's Day weekend".

To support stretched staff members, including NHS mums, the CCG is urging people to only use health and care services when absolutely necessary.

Mums working in the NHS across the region, including Bath, North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire, have been thanked for helping others this weekend and giving up time with their children.

The CCG's clinical chair Dr Andrew Girdher said: “Despite the unusually mild weather, the NHS in our region remains under enormous pressure.

“High numbers of people are still testing positive for Covid-19, which is having a knock-on effect across all local health and care services, with teams seeing more people coming through their doors in need of urgent and emergency care.

“On top of this, people are still having injuries and still falling ill with other health conditions, all of which need to be cared for with the same urgency that is given to those with coronavirus.

“This Mother’s Day weekend, while we thank those NHS mums who are away from their loved-ones, we ask that people play their part in doing whatever they can to ease the pressure our hard-working staff are currently feeling.”

Great Western Hospital's chief executive Kevin McNamara highlighted how Swindon's hospital is struggling with its bed capacity.

This is partly due to increased Covid inpatient numbers, with 76 patients recorded on Thuesday.

He added: "We are also seeing high numbers of patients medically fit for discharge but where their care needs can’t yet be met in the community.

"These two things combined mean many beds aren’t available that could otherwise help support reducing the backlog of operations caused by the pandemic."

Health care settings across the region have noticed a sharp rise in the number of people coming ni for urgent and emergency care.

This means some patients are waiting longer for care.

A CCG spokesman said: "At this current time, people are being asked to think extra carefully about whether their health concern requires genuine medical intervention, or whether the problem can be treated safely at home.

"Many illnesses and injuries, including cuts and scrapes, upset stomachs and coughs and colds, can be managed effectively away from a hospital or GP practice through self-care, or with advice sought from a local pharmacist."

The NHS 111 service is available online at www.111.nhs.uk and over the phone by calling 111. It provides quick advice and guidance.

It will direct people to the appropriate healthcare setting if this is required.