Emergency Services (including A&E) at University Hospital Lewisham
Our Emergency Department is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, treating patients who have suffered a recent injury or developed a sudden illness.
In line with all A&E departments we use a priority system whereby the most seriously ill patients are seen first. If you do not have an urgent or life threatening illness or injury we may decide to treat you in the Urgent Care Centre (UCC), which is used for treating minor injuries and conditions. The UCC is run by emergency nurse practitioners and doctors.
Even if you have been referred by your GP, you will need to register at the Urgent Care Centre first. Please be aware that although the team may be expecting you, they may not be able to see you immediately.
Before visiting the Emergency Department, please consider whether your condition is urgent or life threatening. Your GP is your first port of call for non-urgent, on-going illnesses or injuries. Using your GP saves time as they know your medical history. Pharmacists are health professionals that give expert, confidential advice and treatment and you don’t need an appointment.
What services are provided?
The Emergency Department includes the following areas:
- Resuscitation area
- Major treatment area
- Minor treatment area
- Rapid Assessment Treatment Unit (RATU) – 12 bedded unit for patients who have been assessed by A&E staff as requiring a further period of standard observation and assessment, the result of which may prevent a main hospital admission
- Urgent Care Centre (UCC) – Designated area away from the main A&E Department run by emergency nurse practitioners and doctors that is used for treating minor injuries and illnesses. The UCC may also advise you to attend other health services to receive medical advice and treatment including your own GP, a pharmacist or other community services such as sexual and reproductive health services.
Our Emergency Department also provides senior accident and emergency staff, triage, nurse practitioners, en-suite x-ray facilities, diagnostics and specialist opinion from all major specialties.
Children's Emergency Department (A&E)
We have a separate 24 hour emergency department (A&E) at University Hospital Lewisham dedicated to children under 16.
The team includes paediatric consultants, GPs, ENP’s, medical trainees, children’s nurses, a matron, ED sisters and a children’s ED practice development nurse. All nursing staff are specifically trained to see and treat children and the department has the additional benefit of a full time play specialist.
The department has:
- 2 triage rooms
- 1 waiting area
- 9 individual consulting rooms/treatment rooms
- 1 High dependency room
- 1 resuscitation room
- 1 treatment room
- A designated 3 bedded short stay area for children requiring a period of observation from 6 to 23 hours and occasionally overnight.
Who are these services for?
These services are for all patients that require urgent medical treatment.
Where is the Emergency Department located?
Adult and Children’s A&E (Open 24hrs)
The A&E department is located opposite main reception and can be accessed by foot when entering the Hospital from the front of the building using the ambulance entrance. If you are travelling by car you will need to park in the public car park to the far right of the hospital (charges apply).
Urgent Care Centre (Open 24hrs)
Patients will be directed to the Emergency Department from the Urgent Care Centre following triage.
How can you contact the Emergency Department?
Adult A&E
T: 020 8333 3042/3043
F: 020 8333 3044
Children’s A&E
T: 020 8333 3138
F: 020 8333 3059
Urgent Care Centre
T: 020 8333 3226
Our Performance
There are a range of measures that we use to measure the performance of our Emergency Department. To see how we are performing against key measures, please click here.