We have a full emergency department at the Lister and an A&E service at the QEII. The difference is that the Lister emergency department provides specialist support to those requiring emergency surgery, stroke, cardiac or neonatal care – services that are not available at the QEII.
Taken together, however, they provide services 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Our emergency department and A&E teams cover the whole of east and north Hertfordshire, as well as south Bedfordshire– a population of around 600,000 people. This means that:
- We see more than 135,000 patients a year
- Around 25% of those who come into our departments are children
- About 21% of the patients we treat are admitted to hospital
Services for adults
QEII - Current A&E service provided 8.00am to 8.00pm daily, but treats minor injuries only overnight
Lister – Full emergency department service, 24 hours a day, every day of the week
Adults with minor illnesses are asked to contact their GP, GP out-of-hours service (03000 333 333) or NHS Direct (0845 46 47) in the first instance for advice, support and treatment. Those with serious or even life/limb threatening conditions should call 999 or go to the nearest hospital with a full emergency department – which normally will be the Lister hospital in Stevenage.
Services for children (over 12 months to 16 years of age)
QEII – Treats minor injuries only, 24 hours a day
Lister- Full specialist children’s emergency department service, 24 hours a day, every day of the week
Parents/carers of children with minor illnesses are asked to contact their GP, GP out-of-hours service (03000 333 333) or NHS Direct (0845 46 47) in the first instance for advice, support and treatment. Parents/carers of those with serious or even life/limb threatening conditions should call 999 or take them to the nearest hospital with a full children’s emergency department – which normally will be the Lister hospital in Stevenage.
Services for babies (aged up to 12 months)
Where parents/carers of babies need to take them to hospital urgently, they should go to the nearest one with a full children’s emergency department – which normally will be the Lister hospital in Stevenage.
Waiting times standards
In line with national standards, we have a responsibility to provide treatment, admission, transfer or discharge to at least 95% of within four hours of their arrival. The extra 5% is because sometimes this may become longer if the patient needs more extensive treatment due to having a very serious illness – for example someone who requires resuscitation.
Feeling unwell?
If you’re feeling unwell and don’t know what to do, phone NHS Direct on 0845 46 47 or visit www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk. These phone and web-based services are open all day, every day.
Alternatively find out which NHS services are available in your local area here in Hertfordshire. Go to www.wheredoigo.org.uk or contact NHS Direct for more information.
