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Can I just go to any hospital, even not my local?

  • 27-08-2012 07:44PM
    #1
    augusta24
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 633 ✭✭✭


    Hi all,

    Found it a little tricky to find the right forum for this so I hope this is in the right place...

    But I just have a little question that's probably silly but it's something I always wanted to know...

    If someone needs to go to a&e for a proper emergency (not going to gp first) can you go to any public hospital with an a&e department?

    I ask because I live in a rural area. The closest hospital is about 45 minutes away but it has limited resources and doesn get a great name, while the hospitals in Dublin e.g. Vincent's is about 60-70 minutes away. Now I know someone might say you should get the patient to the closest a&e hospital but what if fr example that patient is having a stroke and it's vital to get them to the hospital that will be able to act fast and appropriately, thrombolysis etc


Comments

  • #2
    RobFowl
    Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators Posts: 11,669 Mod ✭✭✭✭RobFowl


    You can attend any AE without referral. You will be charged €100 though (this fee is waived with a GP referal). I think that the figures show about 40% of patients attending AE have not been referred. Some times this is approprite as in some of the emergencies mentioned by the OP. The figures show that over 70% of self referrals could have been dealt with by their GP (must try to find a reference for this !).


  • #3
    augusta24
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 633 ✭✭✭augusta24


    RobFowl wrote: »
    You can attend any AE without referral. You will be charged €100 though (this fee is waived with a GP referal). I think that the figures show about 40% of patients attending AE have not been referred. Some times this is approprite as in some of the emergencies mentioned by the OP. The figures show that over 70% of self referrals could have been dealt with by their GP (must try to find a reference for this !).

    Thanks for clearing that up for me, something I always wondered about!


  • #4
    drzhivago
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 926 ✭✭✭drzhivago


    augusta24 wrote: »
    Hi all,

    Found it a little tricky to find the right forum for this so I hope this is in the right place...

    But I just have a little question that's probably silly but it's something I always wanted to know...

    If someone needs to go to a&e for a proper emergency (not going to gp first) can you go to any public hospital with an a&e department?

    I ask because I live in a rural area. The closest hospital is about 45 minutes away but it has limited resources and doesn get a great name, while the hospitals in Dublin e.g. Vincent's is about 60-70 minutes away. Now I know someone might say you should get the patient to the closest a&e hospital but what if fr example that patient is having a stroke and it's vital to get them to the hospital that will be able to act fast and appropriately, thrombolysis etc

    If its a true emergency you might still be best seeing your GP first as the average patient may not appreciate all the signs of a particular condition and not realize there are many things the GP's can and will do in emergencies

    Next Issue is if you call and emergency ambulance which will take you to the local hospital of your catchment area unless
    • There is a specific bypass policy for trauma such as St Colmcilles
    • The new policy on ST elevation MIs is instituted and then the paramedics will bring you to the nearest hospital with 24 cath lab service
    • the patient is under 16 and the hospital in question does not see paeds
    • the problem relates to imminent delivery and the hospital does not have obstetrics

    Stroke thrombolysis protocols exist and the paramedics have an assessment protocol where they pre-warn hospital but as yet there is no diversion to a thrombolysis centre and unfortunately not all hospitals with EDs provide such thrombolysis

    FORGOT to say if you are driving yourself you can choose where to drive to, if you meet the criteria they have to see and treat you in the emergency department ( will not treat pads in adult EDs in dublin for example)


  • #5
    bisset
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 440 ✭✭bisset


    Surely if you are able to drive yourself you dont warrant A+E. Dont forget if it is after GP hours you can go to Caredoc or whatever is the local equivalent. Obviously if you think you are seriously ill ring 999


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