Going to the… Emergency Department - Easy read

When you feel ill you will normally  

go to see the doctor in your local 

Surgery - your GP.

But, if you are really ill or have hurt yourself, you may have to go to hospital.

Sometimes, you may have to go in an ambulance.

Or your family or friends may take you.

When you arrive at the hospital 

you will go to the Emergency 

Department. 

This was called 'A&E'.

When you arrive at the Emergency Department.

Go to the Reception …

You will be asked for your name and address.

You will be asked to sit in the waiting area.

You will be seen by a nurse or a doctor.

A nurse or doctor will then call you into a room and ask you some questions.

They might need to take your blood pressure.

They might need to take your 

Temperature.

You will then be asked to wait to see the doctor.

When you see the doctor, he or she will ask you more questions.

They will examine you by touching or looking at the part of    you that is unwell. 

If you are hurting or scared, tell the doctor or nurse who will try to help you.

The doctor might then write out a prescription for you. 

A prescription is a list of medicines or tablets that make you better.

Or, the doctor might send you for tests in other parts of the hospital to find out what is wrong with you.

These tests might be taking blood.

This can show the doctor if there is something that is making you feel unwell.

X-Ray

An X-Ray will take a picture of your bones.

Scan

A scan can take pictures of inside your body.

This helps the doctor to see why you are feeling ill.

Once the doctor has seen you and, if you are well enough.

You will be able to go home.

If you are not well enough to go home.

You will stay in a bed in the hospital.

You will have treatment to make you feel better.

If you are worried or unhappy about your care, or you want to tell us how well we are doing, you can let us know.

You can use any of the 4 ways shown

You can tell the Staff in the Emergency Department.

Or you can tell the Patient Relations Department.

You can write to us:         

Patient Relations Manager

Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Foundation Trust

Royal Albert Edward Infirmary

Wigan Lane, Wigan, WN1 2NN

Or telephone 01942 822376

Or email us at: Patient.Relations@wwl.nhs.uk