Emergency Unit (A&E)
The Emergency Unit at the University Hospital of Wales is open 24 hours a day, every day, and is there to assess and treat those patients most in need of urgent care.
Patients should attend the emergency unit if:
- they have experienced a serious injury or accident
- they are showing symptoms of a medical emergency (such as a stroke or a heart attack)
- they are having difficulty breathing
- they are in a state of crisis or delirium
More information on when to attend in an emergency can be found by clicking this link.
How to access the Emergency Unit
In a life-threatening emergency, please call 999 immediately.
If you are unsure of your symptoms, or what medical advice you need, the NHS 111 Wales website can help with advice, guidance, directory of services and a symptom checker.
If your condition is urgent, but not life-threatening, please call 111 before attending the Emergency Unit.
By calling 111, your condition can be assessed and advice can be given on the most appropriate place to get the healthcare you need, as this is not always the Emergency Unit.
Patients can access the Emergency Unit either by ambulance in emergency situations, by being advised to attend by NHS 111 Wales, or another healthcare professional, or by self-presenting in urgent circumstances.
If you are attending the Emergency Unit for a child or young person under the age of 16, they would access this the same way but would visit the Paediatric Emergency Unit. More information on the Paediatric Emergency Unit can be found by following this link.
What happens when you arrive at the Emergency Unit?
The Emergency Unit is located on the lower ground floor of the University Hospital of Wales, opposite the two-storey car park at the front of the hospital. (whathreewords ///arena.claim.ranch).
When you attend our Emergency Unit, you can now expect to see eTriage kiosks upon arrival.
Before entering the Unit, please follow the instructions on the screens and input the information requested. For more information on eTriage, please visit this webpage.
If you are unable to use the eTriage kiosks, please speak to the reception team who will check you into the Emergency Unit.
Once you have checked in, you will then be seen by a clinician who will assess your condition. This assessment may involve a physical examination and investigations, such as blood tests, x-rays and ECGs.
If you are very unwell you will be seen by an Emergency Medicine doctor and referred to a specialist unit or admitted to a ward if necessary.
If you do not need to be seen in the Emergency Unit, you may be signposted to a more appropriate service for your needs, such as an urgent primary care centre, your GP or another member of the Primary Care team.
Some people may be treated in the unit and sent home, with instructions on what to do next.
Other information
Our Emergency Unit remains under significant pressure, and we encourage the public to make use of the alternatives to the Emergency Unit in situations that are not urgent or life-threatening.
If you are feeling unwell and are unsure of your symptoms, the NHS 111 Wales website can help. It has a range of healthcare advice and information, as well as a symptom checker and can be accessed by following this link.
Also, if you need healthcare support, your Primary Care team in the community can help. Your Primary Care team is your first port of call for your healthcare needs in the community and if you’re unsure of which member of the Primary Care team is best suited to your needs, this webpage can help.
If your condition is urgent, but not life-threatening, please call 111 for access to urgent care, out-of-hours or for the Minor Injuries Unit.
Please only attend the Emergency Unit if it is an emergency.