Emergency Department (ED)
Our Emergency Department (ED) treats more than 80,000 patients a year and provides emergency services and care for the wider community in the Great Yarmouth, Gorleston, Lowestoft and Waveney area, as well as the inland and rural surrounding areas. We work closely with other specialty services and local hospitals and provide a 24 hour service for a local population of approximately 250,000 patients.
Note: The Emergency Department should not be confused with the Emergency Admissions and Discharge Unit (EADU) which is for the assessment of emergency patients sent to hospital by General Practitioners (GPs).
What services are provided?
- Care of immediate life threatening illness or injury
- Emergency conditions in both adults and children
- Road traffic collisions
- A dedicated paediatric team (who provide the above services for children)
- Advanced nurse practitioner service
- Trauma Clinic
- Emergency Hyperbaric Treatment
We also work closely with other outpatient areas such as:
- Fracture Clinic
- Stroke Services
- Anticoagulation Clinic
How can I get a referral?
The Emergency Department does not have a specific referral system. Other services such as your GP, nurse practitioner or the 111 service might ask you to attend the Emergency Department.
In an emergency you should call 999 for an ambulance to go to your nearest Emergency Department (A&E).
An “emergency” is a serious injury or life-threatening problem such as chest pain, severe shortness of breath, severe abdominal pain, loss of consciousness, severe allergies, heavy bleeding, suspected broken bones, deep wounds, swallowing something harmful or poisonous or a drug overdose, any signs and symptoms of a stroke or infants and children with persistent fever despite paracetamol.
Please remember that the Emergency Department and 999 should only be used for emergencies. Using them for minor problems delays sick patients being seen in a timely fashion and can put other people's lives at risk.
If you are unsure where to seek treatment for your illness or condition, please click here for more information.
Please note: Arriving by ambulance does not give you priority over other patients with similar problems who have come by car or public transport.
Every patient who arrives in the department is assessed by a senior nurse who will ensure that patients with potentially life-threatening conditions or injuries are treated first.
What are the opening times?
The department is open 24 hours day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.
Please be aware that there can be a considerable wait to be seen as we often have a significant number of sick patients within the department. Therefore we ask you to consider visiting your GP for review of chronic problems such as back pain, or your local walk-in centre or pharmacist for minor illnesses such as coughs, colds and sore throats and minor injuries such as bruises and sprains.
Key staff
Dr. Jon Baldry
Dr Laura Brenner
Dr James Flatt
Dr Anna Bayston
Associate Specialist Doctor: Dr. Mark Errington
Remarkable People Awards
'Team of the Year' 2012