Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what is the remit of an accident and emergency unit.
Accident and emergency (A&E) department types are defined according to the activity performed. The definitions are as follows:
Type 1 | Emergency departments – consultant-led 24-hour services with full resuscitation facilities and designated accommodation for the reception of accident and emergency patients. |
Type 2 | Consultant-led mono specialty accident and emergency services (e.g. ophthalmology or dental) with designated accommodation for the reception of patients. |
Type 3 | Other type of A&E/minor injury activity with designated accommodation for the reception of accident and emergency patients. The department may be doctor-led or nurse-led, treats at least minor injuries and illnesses and can be routinely accessed without an appointment. A service mainly or entirely appointment-based (for example a general practitioner practice or outpatient clinic) is excluded even though it may treat a number of patients with minor illness or injury. This category excludes National Health Service walk-in centres. |
Type 4 | NHS walk-in centres. |