Introduction

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 have accident and emergency services but 24-hour care is available. You can use the find services search on NHS Choices to see if there is one near you. Many hospitals have their own websites, which give you information about the urgent and emergency care services they offer.

Hospital Passport

Hospital Passport – a way to record and show important information to ensure medical staff can access the information they need quickly.