Written question WQ94786

In March 2024, we published a Quality Statement for Care in Emergency Departments which sets out the outcomes and standards of care people can expect when accessing care in an emergency department.

We expect everyone to be triaged by a clinician at the earliest opportunity to assess their condition and ensure they are treated in order of their clinical priority.

Around £500,000 of Six Goals for Emergency and Urgent Care programme funding has been provided to test 'e-triage', which is a digital solution and allows people to fill in their own details about why they have attended the emergency department. This supports timely clinical decision making and the management of clinical risk within waiting rooms. It is also anticipated it will allow people to be directed to the most appropriate services at an earlier opportunity, improving outcomes and experience. Subject to a positive evaluation, it will be rolled out across all emergency departments.

If it is determined an emergency department is not the right place for a person’s needs, we expect health boards to have appropriate and timely referral pathways in place, whether for advice about self-care, referral to minor injury units or direction to an alternative community service.