The Emergency Department is dynamic in its approach to technology. It is fully computerised and includes the latest digital imaging and information technologies.
The department is made up of the following areas:
Reception and waiting area
All patients are registered in the department upon their arrival in the smart purpose-built reception area at the entrance to the building. The new waiting room, opened in 2021, gives an opportunity to increase the social distancing capability almost five fold leading to a much better experience for patients and visitors.
The new waiting area
Triage
A triage nurse assesses patients on arrival to the Emergency Department. There are two entrances to the department of which one is for walking patients and one is for patients brought in by ambulance.
NHS 111
People who have contacted the NHS 111 service in the first instance and have who have had an appointment booked in the Emergency Department, aim to be seen within 30 minutes.
Minors
In early 2021, the Emergency Department opened a new, spacious, minors area for all non life threatening injuries. The Minors has been meticulously designed and has the essential equipment to treat minor injuries and illness. The outstanding feature of this area is its flexibility. It has the capability to be an isolation zone for Covid patients with direct access to them without compromising the safety of other patients in the department.
Emergency Room
Staff in the Resus area
The Emergency Room has four fully equipped bays to provide emergency care for patients requiring resuscitation or urgent intervention. It also has X-ray facilities and a designated paediatric resuscitation bay.
The assessment area
This area has 16 cubicles for the management of patients whose condition requires them to be examined and treated on a stretcher or a comfortable chair.
ED assessment area
Paediatric assessment area
The department has a dedicated children’s area to segregate children from adults and allow for them to be cared for in appropriate surroundings. It has a play area that provides a facility to observe children as well as keeping them amused and reducing their anxiety.
Same Day Emergency Care
The SDEC department is housed in a modular building on Whinpark car park 2
A temporary Same Day Emergency Care (SDEC) can be found in the modular building on Whinpark car park 2, near the Emergency Department.
The medical Same Day Emergency Care service accepts appropriate referrals to the new location via A&E, GPs, NWAS, Urgent Treatment Centres or from the community.
The new unit operates from 8am to midnight with the last referral being taken up to 9pm. On arrival at the new location, patients will be registered, triaged and have a preliminary assessment by a senior decision maker.
Any treatment, procedures or diagnostics required will be carried out and patients discharged or booked in for a follow up appointment. The main aim of the new clinical model is to rapidly assess and treat patients in the same day and avoid unnecessary admission and long waits in A&E.
SDEC forms part of the Emergency Village and Critical Care Development. Find out more here.
Security
The Emergency Department has CCTV and all members of staff are equipped with a bleep, which can be activated if he or she feels under threat. The Trust has adopted a zero tolerance policy and takes action against any person who is found to be threatening or violent towards members of staff.
