Emergency medicine journal : EMJ
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(1) To determine the pattern of ambulance arrivals in the emergency department (ED) and (2) to review resource allocation based on these data. ⋯ In planning resource allocation and in the development of contingency plans, the resource use of ambulance patients and the pattern of their arrivals should be taken into account.
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The aim of this study was to examine the quality of handover of patients in the resuscitation room by describing the current perceptions of medical and ambulance staff. ⋯ Despite a generally positive perception of handovers there may be some room for improvement, in particular in the area of medical emergencies. Ambulance staff training should produce a structure for the handover that is recognisable to medical staff. The aim being a smooth and efficient transfer from prehospital agencies to A&E staff.
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To assess the effect of the introduction of NHS Direct on advice seeking calls to an accident and emergency (A&E) department. ⋯ The introduction of NHS Direct has allowed for a mechanism to be put in place reducing the number of calls for advice being dealt with by the A&E department clinical staff with a concomitant time saving. At the same time the number of calls for advice made by the public to the hospital has dramatically increased.
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To describe the diagnostic errors occurring in a busy district general hospital accident and emergency (A&E) department over four years. ⋯ Good clinical skills are essential. Most abnormalities missed on radiograph were not difficult to diagnose. Junior doctors in A&E should receive specific training and be tested on their ability to interpret radiographs correctly before being allowed to work unsupervised.