Home › Patient Information › Hospitals › Stoke Mandeville Hospital › Welcome to the Emergency Department

Welcome to the Emergency Department.

We operate a triage, a one stop style of treatment for patients with a minor injury or illness and aimed at reducing the overall time you wait in the department. Please read through this document whilst you wait.

Print

Chinese (Traditional)

We treat you on an emergency basis only and this is not a substitute for complete care. In some cases, it may be necessary for you to see your general practitioner after seeing us. If you do not have one, please contact your local Patient Advice and Liaisons Service (PALS).

Your Rights

Skilled doctors and nurses
Courteous staff
Privacy
Safety

Our Rights

A safe working environment
No aggression/violence
An understanding from patients and relatives that we always do our best, but sometimes resources do not meet the demands.

Triage and the Waiting Room

Triage (Initial assessment)

On or soon after your arrival you will be seen by the Triage Nurse.

This experienced nurse ensures that patients requiring the most urgent attention are cared for promptly and safely. If appropriate, you may receive some first aid at this stage. Your condition will be assessed, and you will be given a category of priority to be seen by the doctor.

There are five separate categories:

Life threatening condition
Potentially life threatening
Serious but stable injuries, illnesses
Minor injuries
Long-standing minor injuries, long-standing problems

Waiting time

The nurse will also tell you approximately how long you will wait to be seen by a doctor, or whether the waiting time has changed. This will depend on how busy the department is, or whether there are any critically ill or injured patients being treated. Whilst you are waiting, please try to be patient, but do not hesitate to ask the staff if you are concerned or have not been informed of the expected wait.

Registration

You will be asked a number of questions at reception, so a record of your visit can be recorded on the computer. Sometimes the receptionist may not be at the desk because they are registering a very ill patient by the bedside. The receptionist will also be able to provide general advice and information, eg, taxi numbers, how to find your way about the hospital, car parking.

Tests

On your arrival, a nurse may take your temperature, blood pressure and pulse, and if necessary these may be repeated throughout your stay. A doctor or nurse may also take a blood or urine sample, which will be sent to the laboratory and the results may take as much as an hour to come back.

Nurse requested X-rays

In some circumstances, the nurse will examine you and send you directly to radiology for an X-ray and then to return to Accident and Emergency to see a doctor.

Pain

Your level of pain will be assessed and if you require painkillers, the triage nurse can arrange for this to happen. Anyone in severe pain will receive help as soon as possible. If you feel you need pain relief and have not been asked, please inform the triage nurse.

Your named nurse

You will be allocated a nurse who will be responsible for your nursing care whilst you are in the Emergency Department. Please do not hesitate to ask any questions you might have. Each room has a call bell for urgent requests.

Refreshments

A nurse can direct relatives and friends to the nearest refreshment facility, but please do check with the nurse looking after you before eating or drinking anything yourself. We can also provide refreshments if your clinical condition permits.

Children

There is a children’s waiting area next to the main waiting area. Please ensure that children remain supervised at all times. There is also a mother and baby’s room if you need to change your baby. There is a limited supply of nappies and baby milk if required urgently.

Treatment and Follow-up

Doctors

Often, you will be seen by a junior doctor who may ask a more senior doctor or specialist for an opinion. These doctors may be busy seeing other patients or working on the ward, so you may not be seen immediately. However, you will always be seen by someone with the correct level of experience.

Specialist doctors

If you were first seen by a casualty doctor, they may have requested the opinion of another doctor who works in a speciality, such as medicine or surgery. This doctor may be busy seeing other patients or working on the ward, so you may not be seen immediately. However, you will always be seen by someone with the correct level of experience.

Medical students

The department trains a number of medical students each year. If a student asks if he/she can examine you, please help if you can, but you do not have to. It will not affect your treatment if you refuse.

General Practitioner (GP) referrals

If you were sent to the department by your GP, you will usually be seen by the doctor your GP spoke to. You may be seen in the Assessment Unit or the main department. Your treatment will be the same in both cases. A letter will be sent to your GP explaining the details of your treatment in the Emergency Department.

X-rays and blood tests

You may need these for the doctor to understand what is wrong with you. It can take time for the results to return if your blood is sent for tests. Please wait for these results if the doctor advises you to do so. Sometimes, the results will be sent to your GP.

There may be times when you think the doctor should ask for an X-ray, but he does not do so. X-rays do not always identify a problem and are a large source of radiation. Sometimes, even if the X-ray shows a break, for example of the toe, the treatment is the same whether an X-ray is taken or not. If you are concerned, please ask the doctor to explain why you do not need an X-ray.

Undressing

If you need a full examination, you will be asked to undress. Sometimes, you will need to remove some clothes to allow the doctor to examine you. You will be given a gown or blanket to maintain privacy.

Medical students

The department trains a number of medical students each year. If a student asks if he/she can examine you, please help if you can, but you do not have to. It will not affect your treatment if you refuse.

Clinics

The Emergency Department runs its own review clinics. You will be seen by a more experienced doctor. However, if you arrive late, you may be seen by a doctor who is less familiar with your case. As an alternative to the review clinic, you may be asked to attend another specialised clinic in the Outpatient Department.

Admission to hospital

If the decision has been made to admit you, the bed manager will be contacted and will allocate you a suitable bed. There may be a delay to ensure that the bed or ward is ready to receive you safely. Every effort will be made to ensure you are escorted to the ward by a nurse that has helped look after you in the department.

Your relatives may accompany you to the ward or they may wish to ring the ward later to check on your progress. The telephone number of the ward will be given to them if requested. On the ward, the Emergency nurse will introduce you to the ward staff and inform them of your continued treatment and care as prescribed by your doctor.

Mixed sex wards

You can request a single sex ward, but clinical need may necessitate that you stay on a mixed sex ward. Your privacy will remain a priority. Please speak to your nurse if you have any anxieties about this.

Information leaflets

We have a range of these for common illnesses or injuries. If you are given one, please follow the advice. Keep the leaflet until you are better.

Crutches and walking sticks

Please return these when you no longer need them.

General Information

Surveys

Sometimes the department carries out patient surveys to help improve the service we provide. If you are given a form, please help us help you by completing it.

Valuables

We encourage family and friends to take anything home that you do not require whilst in hospital. The Trust is unable to accept responsibility for the loss of, damage to, personal property whilst on the hospital premises. There is, however, a policy for safeguarding valuables which is available for you to use.

Mobile phones

Please keep mobile telephone use to a minimum in consideration of other hospital users.

Violence

Hospitals are for treating sick people. Not everyone is appreciative. At times, hospital staff are put at risk by the attitudes and behaviour of those they wish to help. Any assault on a member of staff is a criminal offence. Hospital management will support its staff in prosecuting anyone guilty of such actions.

Complaints

Speak to the doctor or nurse in charge if you are unhappy. If you are still unsatisfied, please write to the PALS Office, or the Consultant in Charge of the Emergency Department, or ask for an information leaflet on how to complain.

Share this...

Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust PALS

Click to call

Were you prepared for the visit today?

Did you feel you were prepared for your hospital visit today? Not many people do. The focus of getting there, whether it is in an emergency or for an appointment, can easily end up with you in a muddle.

Am I Prepared?

Related Information

Some tips to improve your mental wellbeing

Staying on top of your mental health and wellbeing is good for us and also benefit physical wellbeing over time, by reducing risk to physical health problems….

Self

Part 2 – Delivering Information

This video explores the diverse range of patient information delivery products offered by MySelfCare, providing comprehensive guidance on how to utilise them effectively.

Videos

Pride and Stonewall

June is Pride Month! It’s a perfect time to reflect on the long history of resistance that led up to this month-long celebration of awareness and…

News & Blog

Going Green

To reduce our carbon footprint and help the planet, MySelfCare and BOE have joined the Chamber Low Carbon scheme. We’re on track for becoming greenhouse gas…

News & Blog

Instant Translation

Translate and print any of your patient information instantly.

News & Blog

World Alzheimer’s Month – Simple tips to reducing your risk of Alzheimer’s

Simple tips for reducing risk of alzheimer’s – World alzheimer’s Month

Was this information useful?

How easy to understand and how useful was the information for you. All feedback is anonymous. If you would like a possible response, please include your email.

How was your visit today?

How well did our staff do today in helping you with your condition. Please note All feedback is anonymous. If you would like a possible response, please include your email.

Treatment Feedback - Tools for Hospitals

Coming soon – order physical products, and new categories, review your documents and much more.

You must have a valid NHS Email to use this service.

Find Out More

News & Blog

View All

Part 2 – Delivering Information

This video explores the diverse range of patient information delivery products offered by MySelfCare, providing comprehensive guidance on how to utilise them effectively.

Videos

Part 1 – Scanning QRs

This video provides step-by-step instructions on how to use QR codes with MySelfCare, making it easy for you to utilise this powerful feature

Videos

Introduction Video

Introducing you to MySelfCare and a Quick overview of its features and how it works in the Hospital

Videos

Stressed man frustrated with electronic devices

Burnout at work

Over the past few decades, “burnout” has become an all-too-familiar way of speaking about a growing problem. Although originating with psychologist Herbert Freudenberger’s 1974 theory, it…

Blog