When to come to A&E
Colchester and Ipswich hospitals’ A&E departments and the Urgent Treatment Centre (UTC) at Colchester Hospital are here for patients who need urgent and emergency help.
If you, or anyone you live with, has any symptoms of a serious illness or injury such as a heart attack, stroke or severe bleeding, call 999 or attend A&E.
If you have a health concern that’s not an emergency, but you’re thinking about coming to A&E, call NHS 111 first.
Coming to A&E
- You must still wear a surgical face mask in our A&E departments and urgent treatment centres unless you are medically exempt. If you cannot wear a surgical face mask, you will be offered a visor as an alternative
- Patients can be accompanied by two visitors in our waiting rooms, majors area and resuscitation area. When the department is exceptionally busy, teams may need to ask visitors to leave temporarily to make space for patients
- Both parents can accompany paediatric patients
Help us stop the spread of infections
ESNEFT is asking everyone to help stop the spread transmissible infections by:
- washing your hands regularly, especially before and after your visit
- wearing a surgical face mask covering your nose and mouth in our A&E departments and urgent treatment centres
- keep an arm’s length distance from staff and other patients where you can