Priority One - Ambulance OOO
  • Respiratory and/or Cardiac Arrest
  • Chest pain or tightness (Chest pain lasting longer than 20 minutes or that is associated with sweating, shortness of breath or radiation to another part of the body e.g. arm, is to be considered a ‘heart attack’ until proven otherwise, regardless of the age of the patient).​
  • Severe heart palpitations
  • Sudden onset of weakness, numbness or paralysis of the face arm or leg
  • Severe breathing difficulties unable to speak in sentences
  • Unconsciousness
  • Vomiting blood
  • Sudden collapse or unexplained fall
  • Unexplained fitting in adults
  • Infant/toddler that is fitting
  • Severe pain for any reason
  • Any overdose, poisoning or attempted suicide
  • A bite or sting from any large spider, snake or suspected venomous creature
  • A suspected severe allergic reaction/ anaphylaxis 
  • Seizure without a previous diagnosis of epilepsy
  • Seizures that are frequent and/ or repeating in an epileptic patient
  • Fainting
Priority Two - Emergency Department
Some of these conditions may require Ambulance treatment and transport to an Emergency Department 
  • Severe flu-like symptoms or coughing up blood
  • Sudden charge in mental state or difficulty speaking 
  • Sudden changes in vision
  • Persistent high fever - despite medication
  • ​Young children who have stopped drinking and/ or passing urine
  • Any sudden, severe, especially in the abdomen or back
  • ​Unusual headaches or migraines for the patient
  • Inability to urinate
  • Pain in pregnancy
  • Pregnancy - reduced movement
  • Pregnancy - ruptured membranes
  • Severe testicular pain
Priority Three - General Practice or AH Service
DISCUSS WITH GP OR NURSE NOW
  • Bites and Stings - if there difficulty breathing or the bite is from a any large black spider or any snake or known venomous creature, the patient should be directed to Ambulance OOO
  • Abdominal Pain - if the abdominal pain is so severe that it changes the patient's posture i.e. they must walk bent over or lie with their knees drawn to their chest; this is highly suggestive of referral directly to an Emergency Department.
  • Convulsions/Fitting (not current)
  • ​Limb Pain (without injury)
  • Eye or vision problems -  any obvious injury to the eye or an embedded object or sudden loss of sight or the quality of sight; this is highly suggestive of referral directly to an Emergency Department. 
  • Suspected Meningitis - concern by parent or carer
  • Mental Health Problems ​or Extreme Anxiety - including suicide ideation 
  • ​Severe pain (from any cause not mentioned in Ambulance or ED lists)
  • Burns/Scalds - if any part of the burn is black or charred or the burnt area is bigger than the patients hand; this is highly suggestive of referral directly to an Emergency Department.
  • Adverse Reaction to Medication
  • Fevers in infants (hot to touch)  - especially newborn to 3 months
  • Vaginal bleeding in pregnancy
  • Persistent vomiting
Priority Four - Discuss with GP or Nurse within 30 minutes
  • Swollen Limb
  • Under-dose - including missed dose
Priority Five - Come to the practice now to be assessed by a GP or nurse
  • Sudden Rash - without other symptoms
  • Unwell Child (<3yo) or Elderly Patient (>65yo) - with persistent symptoms (>48hrs) such as fever, vomiting, diarrhoea, cough)
  • Adult Vomiting and/or Diarrhoea for > 72 hrs
Priority Six - Make today or within 6 hours
IF UNABLE TO MEET TIME FRAME DISCUSS WITH GP OR NURSE
  • Eye Problems
  • Ear Pain - despite pain relief >48 hrs
  • Fever in Adults - who are otherwise well 
  • Flu-like symptoms - with current symptoms of risk
  • Post-operative Problems - if there is active bleeding DISCUSS WITH GP OR NURSE NOW
  • Urinary Problems - but able to urinate 
  • Wound Infection