Health emergencies

Overview

As with all health care services across the county, everyone can access emergency care.

If you have a need or disability, the emergency services will do everything possible to support you to get the health care you need.

An A&E department (also known as an emergency department or casualty) deals with genuine life-threatening emergencies, like:

• loss of consciousness
• acute confused state and fits that are not stopping
• persistent, severe chest pain
• breathing difficulties
• severe bleeding that cannot be stopped
• severe allergic reactions
• severe burns or scalds

Less severe injuries can be treated in urgent treatment centres. An A&E is not an alternative to a doctor’s appointment. If your doctor’s practice is closed you can phone NHS 111, which will direct you to the best local service to treat your injury. Or you can visit an NHS walk-in centre (WIC), which will also treat minor illnesses without an appointment.

Find your nearest A&E (Accident and Emergency)

If you phoned 999 for an ambulance and you have to be taken to hospital, then the ambulance team will take you to the most appropriate A&E – this may not be the closest.

Most community hospitals in Somerset do have access to urgent care services like urgent treatment centres, but they typically do not offer full A&E services with 24-hour care. Many hospitals have their own websites, which give you information about the urgent and emergency care services they offer.

NHS Quicker app and website provides live waiting times for the A&E departments and urgent treatment centres. It shows you five urgent treatment centres, including one A&E department, that are open based on your location. It will sort based on travel time and wait time.

Communication and support

Hospital Passports are a way to record and show important information to make sure medical staff can access the information they need quickly. This includes the best way to communicate with you.

The South Western Ambulance Service NHS Trust Communication Support Area has easy read guides step by step including:

• how the ambulance service can help you
• calling 999
• what to do when the ambulance is coming
• meet the crew
• PPE