Accident and Emergency (A&E)

Ealing Hospital has a very busy 24-hour accident and emergency department which has, like other hospitals, seen unprecedented increases in the number of people using the service.

The main clinical areas within the department include:

• Major trauma and minor-injuries treatment areas

• An acute assessment unit

• A chest pain unit

• Minor surgery facilities

• Resuscitation and decontamination rooms

• Specialist children's treatment area with a waiting area and playroom treating over 20,000 children a year.

Our 30-bedded medical and surgical admission ward greatly reduces the pressures in the A&E department. Patients admitted to this ward from A&E spend up to 36 hours there while their treatment plan is developed before moving to a main ward.

Key performance target exceeded

The Trust meets the national target of ensuring that 98% of all patients are seen, treated and admitted or discharged within 4 hours of arriving at the hospital.

Before you come to A&E consider these three points:

• Ask yourself is your condition genuinely an accident or emergency or could you receive care from your family doctor, or could you seek advice from either NHS Choices or your pharmacist.

• Please be aware of the triage system that prioritises patients. An apparent "queue jumper" will have a more serious condition.

• Remember the medical and nursing teams are there to provide treatment for accidents and emergencies. Patients with other conditions may be redirected to the most appropriate source of care for their investigation and treatment.

• After reporting to reception you will either be sent straight to the minor injury treatment area or seen by the triage nurse, depending on your condition.

When you arrive at A&E

• The triage nurse will assess your condition, give you first aid or pain relief if you need it, and prioritise when you need to be seen by a doctor.

• It is important that the most seriously ill patients are seen first.

• Priority is always given to young children and elderly people.

• Certain injuries and problems can be treated by an experienced and specially-trained emergency nurse practitioner and it is not always necessary for you to see a doctor.