Summary
Welcome to the Emergency Department
Overview
Patients with serious health issues needing Emergency department (ED) treatment can access the department through the main Accident and Emergency entrance in Craven Road.
We have separate Adult, Children's and Minor Injuries Emergency departments. The Children's ED is located next to the Adult's Accident and Emergency department and directly opposite the entrance to the Adult Accident and Emergency department we have the Emergency Department Minors Unit (EDMU), where injuries and minor illness can be seen.
Adult and Children Accident and Emergency (A&E) services will respond immediately to those people who are acutely ill, or have life or limb threatening problems.
The majority of people, however, who attend the A&E department have minor, non life-threatening or limb-threatening injuries and illnesses. The ED as a whole is seeing on average between 380 - 460 patients a day, meaning at times the service is very busy and overcrowded.
The ED has four resuscitation beds and 35 majors beds (both adult and children).
Social distancing will be in place and masks will also be available.
Additional Services
When you arrive at ED as a patient, you will be assessed and triaged by a nurse or doctor who will determine the nature of your illness or injury. You may be sent for an x-ray, and/or have a blood test, and/or might be given some medicines to relieve any pain. Not all patients requiring an x-ray will have this done before seeing the doctor. This will depend on the nature of the injury and the complexity of the problem. The wait for blood test results is normally between 1-2 hours and the wait to be seen by a doctor varies depending on how busy the department is. The average length of stay within the department is 3-4 hours.
If the triaging nurse or receptionist believes you can be seen by an emergency nurse practitioner or doctor in our emergency department minors unit you may be sent there straight from reception/triage to wait to be assessed. they are also able to perform x-rays, blood tests and provide medication.
When you arrive at ED as a patient from your GP with a letter you will be assessed and seen by a triage nurse, who will inform the team that you are expected. The expecting team may request that ED complete some investigtions for example bloods and/or x-ray before they see you. The team maybe seeing sick patients on the ward or other patients within the ED but will see you as soon as possible. You may be taken to a ward before being seen by a speciality for them to assess you there.
If you have an urgent, but not life-threatening health problem you can now contact NHS 111 first to find out if you need to attend the Emergency department (ED).
NHS 111 can book you an appointment at your local ED. 111 will allocate you a time to attend the ED and be treated, meaning you don't have to wait a long time to be seen or they can also make you a direct appointment with a GP, Pharmacist or Urgent Treatment Centre if you don't need to attend ED.
They may also be able to give you the advice you need without using another service.
This service means that you shouldn't wait as long but it is also helping services avoid becoming overcrowded.
Please note
Due to the pandemic there is currently a restriction on the number of visitors allowed to maintain social distancing, as well as staff and patient safety. Each patients personal experiences will be taken into account and a single visitor may be permitted in with a patient.
The Emergency Department is in its own building, set back between the main entrance and maternity block on Craven road. Please note that the roadway between these two buildings is for ambulances only. There are spaces immediately on entering the Craven road multi-storey car park for Accident and Emergency (A&E) drop-off.
Pedestrian access is via the roadway behind the car park-follow the signs. There is no access to A&E from the main entrance block.
To contact us please call the main switchboard on 0118 322 5111 to be directed through to the correct area of the Emergency department.
Pease look out for our volunteers in yellow t-shirts, they will be happy to assist you and help you with a tea, coffee, soft drinks and/or food.