The doctor responsible for Emergency Departments in The Southern Trust has made a short video reminding people that saving lives is the priority for everyone working in Emergency Departments.
In the video, Seamus O’Reilly, Associate Medical Director for Emergency Medicine in The Southern Trust, speaks about how “people are fighting for their lives and we are fighting for their lives”.
The 5 minute video was recorded recently in the Emergency Department at Craigavon Area Hospital and follows the path a patient takes after arriving at reception and onwards to the various treatment areas. The video has been uploaded to the Southern Trust website http://www.southerntrust.hscni.net/about/2925.htm and The Trust’s Facebook and Twitter sites.
Seamus said he made the video to help people understand that the whole process from the moment a patient arrives in the Emergency Department until they leave, is very carefully managed and monitored by senior medical staff and they know exactly where each patient is at any given time.
Seamus explains: “Having worked in Emergency Departments for more than 20 years I know that patients are sometimes sitting in the waiting room wondering why other patients are arriving after them and being treated before them.
This video shows clearly how every patient is treated exactly the same – each person is triaged (assessed) by a trained nurse who decides (based on a medical assessment) where and when they need to be treated. Depending on their condition, the patient might be sent to the Minors Area or the Majors Area or Resuscitation.
People who are assessed as having non-emergency conditions are likely to be treated in the Minors Area and will have to wait until patients with emergency conditions are given the emergency treatment they need.”
In the video Seamus make no apology for saying that patients in the Majors Area or Resuscitation area are the priority or as he puts it “majors always come first.”
Seamus also appealed in the video for the public’s help – people should only come to the Emergency Department if they have serious and urgent conditions – he said: “There are other services available like Minor Injuries, GP or GP Out of Hours and pharmacies that can help you so please think carefully before choosing the right one this winter. For more Information go to: www.nidirect.gov.uk/choosewell”
He also appealed to people not to come to the Emergency Department with a large group of relatives /friends as seating in the waiting room is limited and reserved for patients.
