24-hour Accident and Emergency (A&E)

The emergency department (ER), is where people go when they need emergency assistance. Our Highly trained ER team can handle anything from sprained ankles to heart attacks and strokes. We have the facilities, doctors and expertise to handle almost everything that comes our way. We handle the extreme cases where there is an issue of immediate survival. Highly-specialized surgeons work with the most advanced equipment to increase the likelihood of survival in the patients that are sent there. The word “trauma” best describes what brings people to these centers as we are equipped to handle life-threatening and critical injuries.

Possible broken limbs

Look for bruising, loss of normal function and numbness in the area that is suspected of being broken. If the bone is visible through the skin, go to the ER immediately.

Loss of consciousness

A bump on the head that results in loss of consciousness should be attended to in the emergency room. If the head injury is determined to be blunt force trauma by the paramedic, they may be taken to a trauma center instead. Never try to move someone who is unconscious due to a fall or accident unless necessary.

Fainting

Syncope, or fainting, is caused by a lack of blood getting to the brain. Many things can cause fainting, and it’s important to get checked out by a doctor if it occurs. It may be a sign of a nervous system malfunction, heart problems or a drop in blood pressure, among others.

Signs of a heart attack

• In women, symptoms of a heart attack include
• uncomfortable pressure or pain in the chest,
• pain in one or both arms, back, neck, jaw or stomach,
• shortness of breath and more.

Remember that women often don’t experience chest pain when they have a heart attack. In men, symptoms are almost identical, but most often include chest pain and discomfort.

Signs of a stroke

• The American Stroke Association indicates that the warning signs of a stroke are a
• FAST – F- drooping Face, A- Arm weakness or numbness and S-difficulty Speaking. T-Time (Reach within 3 hours)

Severe stomach pains

• If your stomach pains are associated with blood in vomit or stool, difficulty breathing, fever or injury, it’s time for a visit to the ER.

Shortness of breath

• Shortness of breath can be a sign of a heart attack and other serious conditions.

Severe diarrhea or vomiting

• These conditions can be warning signs of many illnesses and other problems. They can also cause dehydration.

Burns

• If your burn is a first- or second-degree burn and covers an area larger than two to three inches or is over a major joint, you should go to the emergency room.

Trauma
Most often, a trip to the ER will not be decided by you. Severe injuries, like those that require a trauma center, are often brought to the hospital via ambulance. Trauma is the leading cause of death in people under the age of 40. Always call 7373100100 in the event of any of these injuries.

• Traumatic car crashes injuries
• Gun shot wounds
• Stab wounds
• Major burns
• Serious falls
• Blunt trauma (striking or being struck by an object)
• Traumatic brain injuries

Toxicology (Poisoning)

The department of Emergency Medicine provides 24-hour consults to health care professionals on a wide range of conditions including:

• medication overdose
• drug interactions
• herbal toxicity
• envenomations (Bites including snake/scorpion etc)
• occupational exposures
• environmental toxicity

Emergency Physicians are recognized for their expertise in the diagnosis and treatment of illness or injury from toxic exposure.

The consult service works to bring the highest quality of care to the poisoned patient. Thousands of patients have been managed by this service on site over the past decade.