Emergency Department

Staff in the Emergency Department assess and treat people with serious injuries and those in need of emergency treatment (blue light emergencies). The department is sometimes referred to as ‘casualty’ or A&E.

All serious cases that require an emergency ambulance with a ‘blue light’ in the East Lancashire area are brought to the Emergency Department at the Royal Blackburn Teaching Hospital (emergency cases involving severe injury/illness).

The North West Air Ambulance can land on a purpose-built helipad outside the Emergency Department at the Royal Blackburn Teaching Hospital. Air ambulance crews can treat seriously ill patients at the scene of accidents and fly them to the hospital’s dedicated emergency department in just minutes.

The Emergency Department and the 999 ambulance service should only be used in life-threatening or critical situations. You should only call 999 for an ambulance in a real emergency. The Emergency Department can get very busy and you may have to wait a long time to be seen if you are not in immediate danger.

The Department of Emergency Medicine is made up of 5 separate dedicated facilities as following:

• Emergency Department (Royal Blackburn Hospital)
• Urgent Care Centre (Royal Blackburn Teaching Hospital)
• Urgent Care Centre (Burnley General Teaching Hospital)
• Minor Injuries Unit (Accrington Victoria Hospital)
• Minor Injuries Unit (Rossendale Health Centre)

In some circumstances, Accident and Emergency (A&E) may not be the most appropriate place to receive treatment. If you become unwell make sure you choose the right healthcare service to receive treatment.

Life-threatening emergencies

If someone is injured, or seriously ill and and their life is at risk - Call 999.

Medical emergencies can include:

• loss of consciousness
• an acute confused state
• fits that are not stopping
• persistent, severe chest pain
• breathing difficulties
• severe bleeding that cannot be stopped
• severe allergic reactions
• severe burns or scalds

Call 999 immediately if you or someone else is having a heart attack or stroke. Every second counts with these conditions. Also call 999 if you think someone has had a major trauma. Major trauma is often the result of a serious road traffic accident, a stabbing, a shooting, a fall from height, or a serious head injury.

The ambulance will take you to the most appropriate hospital for your condition. This could be the Emergency Department at the Royal Blackburn Hospital. 

Alternatives to Accident and Emergency Services (A&E)

In some circumstances, Accident and Emergency (A&E) may not be the most appropriate place to receive treatment. If you become unwell make sure you choose the right healthcare service to receive treatment: