Medical Emergency Unit

EDs have highly trained doctors and other health professionals on site to deal with emergencies. They assess, treat, stabilise and start the health management of people who have come to the ED with a serious illness or injury.

Some emergency departments specialise. For example, there are emergency department attached to children’s hospitals, some women’s hospitals and some eye or ear hospitals. Most EDs, however, accept all emergencies.

Most people go to EDs with conditions that include:

injuries from accidents, physical assaults or falls
heart attack and stroke
severe pain
problems with breathing or bleeding
broken bones
loss of consciousness
worsening of a serious illness
drug overdoses or poisoning
allergic reactions
pregnancy complications
mental illness
burns