All A&E departments use a priority system – called ‘triage’ – where the most seriously ill patients are seen first. This is usually done by nurses.
In A&E, you will initially be seen by specialist nurses who are trained to manage all conditions from life-threatening injuries and illnesses, to minor issues. They will decide who is to be prioritised (triaged) and treated first.
For example, patients arriving at A&E with chest pain or symptoms of a stroke are prioritised according to strict clinical guidelines. These state that an ECG must be completed within 15 minutes of arrival to either identify or rule out a heart attack.
If it shows anything, or the doctors and nurses have other reasons to believe you need to see a heart specialist, you will be seen and sorted rapidly.
Another example would be if the A&E staff think you may need an emergency operation – say for appendicitis, an ectopic pregnancy or a major fracture. You will then be prioritised and see a general, or gynaecological or T&O (trauma and orthopaedic) surgeon quickly. We can start an operation if needed, within an hour of arrival.
Conversely, if you are not that ill, you will put in a queue. That can mean quite a long wait, sorry. So take a book or something to do.
We have described who are prioritised (triaged) in A&E, and how. Patients with chest pain or symptoms of a stroke are a priority. We hope you understand it better now.
