"SHOULD I ATTEND A&E?"

Hospital A+E Departments are for Accidents and Emergencies only. Some examples where it is appropriate to attend A+E without delay include:

• Major injuries such as injuries from road traffic accidents
• Falls from a considerable height
• Supected broken bones
• Major head injuries
• Collapse/loss of consciousness
• Severe breathing difficulty
• Severe chest pain
• Severe bleeding
• Poisoning
• Extensive burns

Unfortunately many people attend A+E with problems that could be dealt with by a GP or Pharmacist. These include the following:

• Sore throats, earache, coughs
• Minor breathlessness or wheezing
• Ongoing aches and pains
• Ongoing skin problems
• Backache
• Simple bites and stings
• Vomiting and diahorrea