Emergency Department reception
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When you arrive at the Emergency Department as a patient, after registration, you will be assessed by a nurse who will determine the nature of your illness or injury and how urgent it is for you to be seen.
At this assessment patients are allocated to be seen within specialist areas of the ED according to the nature of their injury/illness. These areas and examples of the types of patients they see are found below:
High Dependency
E.g. Stroke, breathing difficulties, severe abdominal pain.
Resuscitation
E.g. Severe trauma, heart attack, unconscious patients.
Low Dependency
E.g. Abdominal pain, unwell, overdose, Asthma.
Minor Injury
E.g. Fractures, lacerations, minor illness.
Paediatrics
Any children’s injuries and illness that does not require intensive care
As well as doctors specialist nurses with advanced skills in examination, investigation and treatment called Emergency Nurse Practitioners (ENP) work in the minor injury area of the ED. Many patients in the minor injury area are seen by the ENP who can treat of a wide range of health problems.
Many patients can have some investigations such as blood tests and certain x-rays undertaken before seeing a doctor/ ENP. Not all patients requiring an X-ray will have this done before seeing the doctor/ENP. This will depend on the nature of the injury and the complexity of the problem.
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