What’s the difference between urgent and emergency (A&E) care?
Do you know the difference between urgent and emergency (A&E) care? If not, read on
They are different. Urgent care means you need to be seen soon. Emergency care means you need to be seen now.
Also urgent care does not always have to occur at A&E. There are a variety of other (and often better) places to go in the NHS:
- Urgent Treatment Centre (UTC). For the purposes of this page, we will call them UTCs
- Urgent Care Centre (UCC)
- Walk-in Centre
- Minor Illness/Injury Unit
- Same Day Emergency Care (SDEC)
- GP – some GPs are able to give you an appointment today for an urgent problem.
Yes, it is confusing. And terminology is different in different areas.
You do not need an appointment for a UTC. You can just turn up. SDECs may be slightly different, and you may need referral from your GP or A&E reception desk). They are all usually open at least 8am-8pm, 7 days a week. Some are open later. Either way, check before you. go.
What are urgent treatment centres?
Urgent treatment centres (UTCs) are an alternative to A&E – and provide urgent care. They are centres that treat minor injuries and illness that require urgent treatment that cannot be seen by your registered GP.
It is an urgent care service and should only be used if you require urgent medical attention. They are not for long term conditions. Your GP is the best person for that.
Where’s my nearest UTC?
You can find your nearest one by putting ‘urgent care’ and your location to Google. Or it may be on your local hospital or Integrated Care System (ICS; local level of NHS administration) website. They are staffed by experienced GPs, hospital doctors, nurses, or other senior healthcare practitioners.
Which conditions are treated at UTCs?
An urgent treatment centre treats minor injuries and illnesses that require urgent treatment.
- Minor illnesses
- Cuts that need sutures
- Minor burns
- Strains and sprains
- Bites and stings
- Minor head injuries
- Ear, nose, throat and chest infections
- Other infections / rashes
- Headache
- Minor eye conditions / infections (not involving loss of vision)
- Abdominal pain
- Suspected fractures.
They can also be used for emergency prescriptions.
What happens when at a UTC?
On arrival at the UTC you will be assessed and treated in order of the priority of your condition. There may be a wait (of over 2 hours) but this is less than A&E.
If your condition is urgent and requires rapid attention, you will be seen by an appropriate doctor or nurse in the UTC.
If your condition is not urgent or immediate, you may be referred back to your GP.
If you are seriously ill, you will be referred to the A&E department nearest to the UTC. It may be in the same hospital.
But is urgent care the same as A&E? No, but they are similar. This is how they are different.
Emergencies
A&E departments assess and treat patients with serious injuries or illnesses. You should visit A&E or call 999 for life-threatening emergencies.
If you need an ambulance call 999, the emergency phone number in the UK. You can also dial 112, which is the ambulance number throughout the European Union.
A&E departments are open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year; although not all hospitals have an A&E department.
Summary
We have answered the question what’s the difference between urgent and emergency (A&E) care. They are similar (and often in the same hospital) but deal with different things. If you go to the ‘wrong one’, you will still be treated, or redirected. MyHSN feels that UTCs are underused. Why not give one a try, if you need one – especially out-of-hours.
