Thinking of dialling 999? Think again

Huge yellow figures depicting different types of injuries have been on display in Spitalfields, to promote better use of A&E by the public.

Yellow men on tour

Yellow statues, designed to make people think about how they use Accident and Emergency services, have begun a tour across north London.

The figures each represent a different injury or illness - and are displayed alongside information on the best NHS services for treating that problem.

Doctors say many people wait for hours in A&E when they could have got quicker treatment closer to home.

The yellow men in Stratford. Credit: NHS North East London
Each statue represents a different injury or illness. Credit: NHS North East London

Thinking of dialling 999? Think again

Each model depicts a different injury or illness Credit: NHS North East London

On Monday, huge yellow figures depicting different types of injuries will be on display in Spitalfields, to promote better use of A&E by the public. Latest official statistics show that Monday mornings are the busiest days for A&E departments.

The statues are designed to inform people about when to go to hospital, and when to seek local healthcare alternatives Credit: NHS North East London

It's also been estimated that up to 40% of people use A&E who do not need to.

The statues will then be popping up across east London to spread the message about better use of A&E as part of the NHS yellow and black ‘Not Always A&E’ campaign which started with a billboard campaign in December.

Campaigners say around 8% of all A and E visits could be treated at a local pharmacy Credit: NHS North East London

The campaign is backed up by a website that directs people to local resources.

Every year, hundreds of thousands of people wait for hours in A&E when they could have got quicker and more appropriate treatment closer to home.

Before they were yellow - one of the creators of the big yellow people Credit: NHS North East London

Around 8% of all A&E visits could have been treated at a local pharmacy, and about 40% of visits to A&E end up with the patient just receiving advice or guidance rather than actual treatment. It has been estimated that unnecessary A&E attendances cost up to £100 million a year in England.

Provisional times and places to see the yellow men:

· Monday 28 January – 1pm-6pm – Bishop’s Square Spitalfields

· Tuesday 29 January – 10am-6pm – Stratford Centre - outside Stratford station

· Wednesday 30 January – 10am-6pm – High Street/Hoe Street - Walthamstow

· Thursday 31 January – 10am-6pm – TBC

· Friday 01 February – 10am-6pm Hackney Service Centre

· Tuesday 05 February – 10-6pm – Brewery shopping centre (outside TKMaxx), Romford

· Wednesday 06 February – 10-6pm – Barking high street

· Thursday 07 February – 10-6pm – The Exchange Ilford OR Ilford high street

· Friday 08 February – 11-6pm – Whitechapel Market

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