Visiting arrangements

More information is available on the visiting page

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Emergency Department

NHS 111 first

If you need medical help fast, but your condition is not life threatening, you can call NHS 111 or visit NHS111 online (24/7- free to call).  Speak toy trained advisors and experienced clinicians who can assess you, offer advice and direct you to the right place to get the medical care you need as quickly as possible. 

Opening times - our Emergency Department at Hereford County Hospital is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week

How to find Emergency Department and parking

  • Find out how to find us.

  • If you're bringing a friend or relative to the Emergency Department there is a short stay pay and display car park with limited spaces near the front of the Emergency Department. Please see further down this page re bringing a relative or friend with you.

Waiting times

You can access our Emergency Department waiting times here. 

  • We continue to strive to see and treat all Emergency Department patients within four hours.
  • How long you will have to wait will depend on the number of patients attending at the time and the complexity of their clinical need.

What to expect on arrival

Emergency Department pitstop service

Watch our staff recognition video about our Emergency Depatment pitstop service, to help see and treat patients more quickly.  We have put a number of changes in place, new ways of working and services, to help us to see and treat patients more quickly in our Emergency Department, including the pitstop service and our Same Day Emergency Care Unit.

Same Day Emergency Care Unit (SDEC)

  • Our Same Day Emergency Care Unit works alongside the Emergency Department allowing specialist hospital staff to rapidly assess and diagnose patients whose condition can be treated without the need for an overnight stay in hospital. 
  • It operates seven days a week.
  • Patients are referred to the unit by Emergency Department staff or their GP for conditions such as chest problems, abdominal pain, and seizures. 

If you have a minor injury or illness

If you have a minor illness or injury click on the link below to access information and contact details for: self care; local pharmacies; GP surgeries, out of hours GP access; emergency dental treatment; Minor Injury Units and when to call NHS 111.   

Please note: some Minor Injury Units CLOSED.  Please call NHS 111 if you need medical advice for minor illnesses or ailments. Find out about alternative NHS services 

Trauma status award

  • We have been awarded trauma status which means we support the regional trauma centre at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham. Our role is to provide assessment and stabilisation of trauma patients before transfer to the trauma centre, and rehabilitation for local patients once they are fit for transfer back to Herefordshire.

Friends and Family Test

 

 

Contact details

01432 372914 - emergency department reception
01432 355444 - Hospital switchboard 

Emergency Department busy

Emergency Department at Hereford County Hospital continues to be very busy. For minor ailments contact your pharmacist, visit http://111.nhs.uk online for urgent health advice (that is not a medical emergency). Pharmacy opening times https://bit.ly/3WQBS3N

Group A Strep (GAS) - alert for parents/carers

Cases of invasive Group A Strep are rare, but parents/carers should be aware of what to look out for and what to do

If you have a minor injury or illness

Find alternative NHS services available.

© Wye valley NHS Trust 2023