Citation

Vardy J, Mansbridge C, Ireland A. Emerg. Med. J. 2009; 26(3): 164-168.

Affiliation

Department of Emergency Medicine, Hairmyres Hospital, East Kilbride, UK. jenvardy@doctors.net.uk

Copyright

(Copyright © 2009, BMJ Publishing Group)

DOI

10.1136/emj.2007.056259

PMID

19234002

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: To examine three opinions voiced by nightshift emergency department (ED) staff. First, that a significant proportion of adult patients arriving by emergency ambulance lack a clear indication for emergency transport. Second, that at night a high proportion of ambulance arrivals are drunk, abusive or leave without treatment. Third, that at night a high proportion of ambulance arrivals have been assaulted or have deliberately harmed themselves. METHODS: A retrospective audit of all 5421 new patient attendances to Glasgow Royal Infirmary ED in February 2007, including 1743 arriving by ambulance. RESULTS: 19.5% of ambulance arrivals lacked a clear indication for emergency transport. Between midnight and 05:00 hours: 52.5% of ambulance arrivals were intoxicated; 6.2% were abusive to staff; 14.0% left before treatment was completed; 21.4% had been assaulted and 7.4% had deliberately harmed themselves. CONCLUSION: The majority of ambulances were called appropriately; however, there remains a significant proportion who could travel by other means. A high proportion of ambulance arrivals between midnight and 05:00 hours were intoxicated, abusive or victims of assault. This supported staff's perception that such patients form a substantial proportion of departmental workload at night.

Language: en