Accident & Emergency

The Trust has Accident and Emergency Departments at the Calderdale Royal Hospital and Huddersfield Royal Infirmary. The departments see around 3000 patients each week and provide expert assessment and treatment of a wide variety of illnesses and injuries.

The department is a 24-hour open access service to the public with dedicated, enthusiastic staff committed to high standards of patient care.

Both departments offer decontamination services for radiation incidents and accidents involving  chemical/biological reagents.

Our services are in more demand than ever. Please think before coming to A&E - this guidance may help you:

Life-threatening emergencies

If someone is injured or seriously ill 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, sever chest pain
• breathing difficulties
• severe injuries or bleeding that cannot be stopped
• severe allergic reaction
• servere burns or scalds

Call 999 immediately if someone is having a suspected heart attack or stroke - every second counts.

The ambulance will take you to the most appropriate hospital for your condition. A small number of patients will bypass our two hospitals and go to a specialist emergency centre such as:

• Leeds General Infirmary - life or limb threatening injuries or serious heart attacks
• Pinderfields Hospital, Wakefield - serious burns

Alternatives to Accident and Emergency (A&E) services

In some circumstances A&E may not be the most appropriate place to receive treatment. If you become unwell please try to choose the right healthcare service to receive treatment. These include

GP Services

Your family doctor provides general medical care, prescriptions and referral to a specialist or hospital clinic. A list of GPs can be found at NHS Choices. To access the GP Out of Hours Service please contact your GP and listen to their answerphone message which will tell you how to access the service.

Pharmacy

Your local pharmacist is trained to offer advice about how to treat every day medical problems and will advise if your symptoms mean that you should seek further medical help. You can find a local pharmacist and other healthcare providers at NHS Choices.

NHS 111 - for non-emergencies

You can call 111 when need medical help fast but it's not a 999 emergency. They are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a call. Calls are free from landlines and mobile phones. Find out more here.

Self care

With the right advice and information, plus a well-stocked medicine cabinet, lots of minor ailments can be treated or prevented effectively. The self care forum may provide guidance.