Should I go to A&E?
Yes, of course you should – if you have a condition that needs it. We are there to help you.
It’s there for you if you are very unwell – especially if you have any of the ‘red flags’ symptoms below. Its main function is to deal with serious and life-threatening illnesses.
If you get the following symptoms, you should to go straight to A&E (or an urgent treatment centre (UTC) or minor illness unit (MIU), if not too unwell) – and not wait to see a GP.
What conditions require A&E? There are 4 main groups of problems.
1. Head/ENT/neurological
Headache
Bad headache with neck stiffness and/or light hurting your eyes (photophobia); or a rapid onset with a ‘chop to the back of the neck’
Weakness on one side of face or body, or loss of speech
This may be a stroke – go to A&E in a hospital with a stroke centre (usually your nearest large regional one; check with NHS111 if not sure)
Unconscious, or new severe confusion
Or very drowsy and hard to wake
Eyes
Sudden loss of vision, severe pain or foreign body in the eye, trauma resulting in rapid swelling, any chemical injury
Mouth
Signs of anaphylaxis (severe allergy), e.g. rapid lip and tongue swelling, wheezing, difficulty breathing
Throat
Any difficulty breathing, very noisy breathing, choking, unable to swallow own saliva
2. Heart / lungs
Heart/chest pain
- Central crushing chest pain, that came on rapidly, spreading to left arm or jaw (especially if linked to nausea/vomiting or sweating, and feeling very unwell)
- A very fast (or slow) heartbeat that makes you feel unwell, or has caused you to collapse
Chest/breathing
Severe shortness of breath (especially if struggling to speak in full sentences)
NB. Any child with very fast breathing
3. Abdomen
Abdominal pain
Severe abdominal pain, especially if:
- Your tummy feels very hard to touch, or you prefer to lie completely still
- It’s linked to recurrent vomiting, high fever, and extreme sweating / clamminess
NB: Any child with excessive thirst, excessive urinating, weight loss and/or lethargy (indicating possible diabetes) must be offered an urgent GP appointment on the day. If they are drowsy or confused – go to A&E
Heavy bleeding
- Vomiting blood
- Passing blood in poo or wee
- Heavy vaginal bleeding (more than three pads an hour)
NB. What constitutes ‘heavy’ bleeding is hard to define. A rule of thumb is enough to make you dizzy or very weak
Not passing urine
For more than 12 hours is a concern; over 24 hours means A&E
NB. Any child not passing urine for 12 hours
4. Other/trauma
Suspected sepsis
Sepsis (means bad infection) presents in many ways. Here are typical symptoms. If you feel very unwell and have 2 or more of these
S: Shivering / hot / cold
E: Extreme pain or general discomfort
P: Pale or discoloured skin
S: Sleepy, difficulty waking and/or any confusion
I: ‘I feel like I might die’ (i.e. feeling very unwell)
S: Shortness of breath
Fall/suspected fracture
A fall with suspected fracture (especially hip pain)
Major burns or cuts
This means cuts that will not stop bleeding after 30 mins of pressure, and you think they may need stitching
For Worried Parents / Carers
This is a very useful guide has been produced for parents and carers of children, giving you advice about when to see the GP; and how to treat many common childhood illnesses. We recommend that parents and carers keep a copy handy with their first aid box.
Summary
We have answered the question ‘should I go to A&E?’ Yes, if you are worried, and especially if you think you may have one the problems above. We hope it has been useful. If you need to go, just go.
Picture Summary
