Department of Health

Website of the Department of Health

Please note that this website has a UK government access keys system.

Reforming Emergency Care

The biggest changes since the service began.

Ambulances

The ambulance service provides the first point of access to health care for a wide variety of patient conditions, ranging from life-threatening emergencies to chronic illness and social care. The 31 National Health Service (NHS) ambulance service trusts in England are the first and often the most important contact for over five million 999 callers each year.

Critical care

A major modernisation programme for critical care services is currently underway with the aim of providing an integrated service for critically ill patients wherever they are in the health system. The changes are set out in Comprehensive Critical Care - A Review of Adult Critical Care Services (published 23 May 2000).

Improving the patient experience

For many patients, A&E is the first point of contact with the NHS and their experience here can significantly affect how they feel about the quality of care across the NHS as a whole.

Minor illness and injury

Around half of patients visiting A&E have relatively minor injuries or illnesses. This area of work is about developing new services and different ways of working to ensure these patients get speedy and appropriate care without jeopardising the care of those who are more seriously ill.

The right staff in right places

A major part of reducing waiting times in A&E and improving the patient's overall experience is to ensure that they are seen at the right time, in the right place and by staff with the most appropriate skills.

Timely admissions

Every year, around 10.9 million patients attend major A&E departments in England. Of these 2.3 million, or 20 per cent, go on to be admitted as emergencies via A&E. Currently 55 per cent of patients who are admitted as emergencies spend over four hours in A&E from arrival.

What happens in A&E

Before a patient in A&E is admitted into hospital for further care, transferred or discharged, there can often be a lengthy chain of decisions, tests and treatment.

Access keys