Your journey through ED.Reception. If you arrive at the walk-in entrance, please book in with the reception staff. They will take a few details and book you onto our system. Then they will direct you to the waiting area. If your arrive via ambulance, you will be taken straight to the Patient Assessment and Triage (PAT) area in Majors or …
Read moreVasovagal syncope (simple faint) ED
6th August 2019Overview.What is vasovagal syncope? This is the term used to describe one of the most common causes of fainting. Pooling of blood in your legs as a result of gravity causes your blood pressure to drop. This means less blood is getting to your brain which may lead to dizziness, falls and blackouts. Vasovagal syncope is not life threatening and …
Read moreSevere infection, sepsis ED
6th August 2019Overview.You have been seen in the Emergency Department and are being treated for a suspected severe infection or sepsis, or because we feel you may be at risk of developing sepsis. This leaflet describes the signs and symptoms of sepsis and how we treat it. Sepsis is a rare but serious reaction to an infection. If you develop sepsis you …
Read moreSeizures and the First Seizure Clinic ED
6th August 2019Seizures. You have been seen in the Emergency Department with a suspected seizure. A seizure (or fit) is a sudden surge of electrical activity in the brain that briefly affects how you feel or act. It can range from a small flicker of a muscle to complete loss of consciousness with uncontrolled movements of your limbs. It may be triggered …
Read morePneumothorax Advice for patients seen in the Emergency Department
6th August 2019Overview You have been seen in the Emergency Department and found to have a pneumothorax. A pneumothorax is air that is trapped between a lung and the chest wall. The air usually gets there either from the lungs or, if you have an injury, through the wound. Typically, it causes a sudden sharp, stabbing pain on one side of the …
Read morePneumonia and chest infections emergency department leaflet
6th August 2019Overview You have been seen in the Emergency Department and diagnosed with a suspected chest infection or pneumonia. This leaflet gives advice on how to manage at home now you have been discharged from hospital. Do’s and don’ts Do get plenty of rest but get up and move around as you can. Do drink lots of water to loosen any …
Read morePatient assessment and triage (PAT) at the emergency department
6th August 2019Overview You have come to the PAT area to be assessed by the Patient Assessment and Triage (PAT) team. This team works at the front door of the Emergency Department at the Royal Sussex County Hospital to quickly assess patients who arrive by ambulance. Between the hours of 12 noon and 9 pm on a weekday you will be seen …
Read morePalpitations emergency department leaflet
6th August 2019Overview You have been seen in the Emergency Department because of heart palpitations. This leaflet discusses possible causes, how to avoid a recurrence and when to seek help. Heart palpitations are heartbeats that suddenly become more noticeable. Palpitations may seem alarming and be uncomfortable. Although palpitations can be caused by abnormal rhythms such as supraventricular tachycardias (SVTs) and atrial fibrillation …
Read moreHeadaches emergency department leaflet
6th August 2019OverviewHeadaches are common and in the vast majority of cases are not life threatening although they can cause discomfort and interfere with our lives. You have been seen in the Emergency department and we do not believe that you have a life-threatening cause of headache. It may be that if the headache is interfering with your life or causing you …
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