EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT
Some of these conditions may require Ambulance treatment and transport to an Emergency Department
Some of these conditions may require Ambulance treatment and transport to an Emergency Department
- Any sudden, severe pain, especially in the abdomen or the back
- Anything impaled in any part of the body
- Broken bones or dislocated joints - deformed or not in normal alignment
- Burns especially to face or genitals
- Cuts with exposed tissue or where the feeling or temperature of the part is not normal
- Deep cuts that require sutures – especially on the face
- Embedded object in the eye
- Flu-like symptoms that are severe or coughing up blood
- Head injuries - where there has been a loss of consciousness or persistent dizziness and/or vomiting
- Inability to urinate
- Pain in pregnancy
- Persistent high fever despite medication
- Pregnancy - reduced movement
- Pregnancy - ruptured membranes
- Severe testicular pain
- Sudden change in mental state or difficulty speaking
- Sudden changes in vision
- Unusual headaches or migraines (for the patient)
- Young children who have stopped drinking or passing urine
The above list has been formulated to assist practice staff in establishing the broad risk patients based on their chief complaint and/or situation. It is not designed to be diagnostic but to assist practice staff in the timely referral to practice clinical staff and other places of care for emergency matters. This system is based on a variety of clinical guidelines and evidence from general practice feedback. The authors have prepared this resource for practices based on the information available at the time. As the authors cannot control how the resource is used in practices, they accept no liability for using or not using this information.