Going homeOur hospitals are generally well served by public transport. Unfortunately we are unable to provide transport home for most patients. If you have someone who can help collect you from hospital, we can help you contact them when we are close to discharging you home. If you want to order a taxi there is a free phone in the …
Read moreFacial fractures emergency department leaflet
6th August 2019OverviewYou have been assessed by staff in the Emergency Department and found to have broken a bone in your face, i.e. sustained a facial fracture. You have been assessed for other injuries before being discharged from the department. If you have a fracture of the cheek bone, you should not blow your nose for about ten days following the injury. …
Read moreCorneal abrasion ED
6th August 2019Overview You have been seen in the Emergency Department and found to have a corneal abrasion. This information provides further advice on this condition. Corneal abrasions can be painful and if the pain is not settling or is severe please contact your GP or come back for further review. Please take over the counter pain-killers should you need them in …
Read moreCoping at home ED
6th August 2019Overview You have been seen in the Emergency Department and considered to be medically fit for discharge back home. This leaflet outlines general advice and services to support you. If you have any concerns about how you will manage at home, please let a member of staff know and we will do our best to help you. If your recovery …
Read moreConstipation ED
6th August 2019Overview Constipation is a very common problem and affects people of all ages, although it is more common as we get older. As we age we tend to eat and drink less, become less active / less able to exercise, and have greater difficulty reaching a toilet. We are also more likely to be taking medicines that cause constipation, and …
Read moreAsthma advice for patients seen in the Emergency Department
6th August 2019What is asthma? Asthma is a common disease which makes the airways of the lungs more sensitive. When the airways become irritated by certain triggers, they become inflamed and narrowed, causing wheezing, shortness of breath, coughing and chest tightness. Asthma can sometimes get worse for no clear reason, but common triggers include pollen, dust and animal fur. Sometimes exposure to …
Read moreAllergic reactions ED
6th August 2019What is an allergic reaction? An allergic reaction occurs when the body’s immune system reacts to a normally harmless substance, an ‘allergen’. This can cause a wide range of symptoms from a simple rash to problems with blood pressure or breathing. Anaphylaxis or anaphylactic shock is the most severe type of allergic reaction. The body over-reacts to the allergen and …
Read moreAcute kidney injury (AKI) ED
6th August 2019What do the kidneys do? Most people have two kidneys that sit in the back part of their abdomen. They are ‘bean-shaped’ and are usually about 10 to 12cm (4 to 5 inches) long. The kidneys remove fluid and waste products from the body by making urine. Urine passes down a tube from each kidney to the bladder where it …
Read moreChest pain ED
6th August 2019Overview Chest pain refers to pain felt anywhere in the chest area, from the level of your shoulders and lower neck to the top of your abdomen and base of your ribs. It may be described as pain, discomfort, tightness, pressure, or a feeling of burning or fullness in the chest. It may also be sharp, dull, throbbing, crushing, tearing, …
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