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A&E can be very busy and should be used for those patients seeking only urgent medical attention.
If you have an urgent but not life-threatening problem, you should call NHS 111 before attending the hospital. You will then be directed to the most suitable location for your care in the first instance, as A&E is not always the most appropriate option.
If your problem is life-threatening, you should still use 999 and come straight to A&E.
Our emergency department provides ready access to emergency nursing and medical care 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The entrance is on Gower Street, opposite Euston Square Tube Station.
The department provides clinical services to treat the range of problems with which patients present as an emergency or urgently, from life-threatening conditions to minor injury and illness, in all age groups from babies to the elderly.
The clinical team in the emergency department, led by specialists in emergency medicine and nursing, seeks to provide patients with the best clinical care as quickly as possible, as well as to allay the distress and anxiety which is often associated with accidents and emergencies. UCLH aims to treat and admit or discharge all patients within four hours, except when patients’ clinical needs dictate that the patient continue to receive treatment in the emergency department for longer.
We aim to keep patients fully informed about their investigations and treatment, and in doing so facilitating patient involvement in decisions about their treatment. The department undertakes continuous self-monitoring to ensure that patients are both treated promptly and made as comfortable as possible during their stay.
Service management
David Tudor
Other contact information
Please note that the department can be very busy, and at these times we may not be able to answer your call right away. If your enquiry is not urgent or is a request for documentation such as a discharge summary, please email us.
We will not be able to assist with queries or concerns that do not relate to the Emergency Department.
We aim to respond to all email queries within 48 hours.
Address
Emergency Department
University College Hospital
Ground Floor
235 Euston Road
London, NW1 2BU
Other referral information
Access to patient results
A GP discharge summary will be sent after the patient's attendance. For any urgent requests for blood or other tests, please call the Emergency Department (ED).
Information for patients
If you have been seen by your GP and have been sent to the Emergency Department for a specialty consultation you will be seen by that Specialist either within the Emergency Department or the Emergency Day Unit. Your GP is required to send you with the following information via a referral letter having already spoken to the particular Speciality doctor:
- Referral date
- Patient details- relevant medical details i.e current and past medical history, medications, biochemical results
- Reason for referral
- Patient’s personal details- full name, date of birth, full address including postcode, home and telephone number
- GP/ referring doctors details- including full name and address and contact details
Referral information for healthcare professionals
A GP discharge summary will be sent after each patient's attendance. For any urgent requests for blood or other tests, please call ED on the bypass number shared with your practice.
If you are sending a patient to ED to be assessed by a non-ED specialty, you are required to contact that team directly for referral and give your patient a letter containing the following, which they should show to ED reception:
- GP (or other referrer’s) details including:
- Full name
- Address including postcode
- Contact details including phone number
- Patient personal details
- Full name
- Date of birth
- Full address including postcode
- Up to date phone number
- Patient details including relevant medical details, medications, relevant biochemical results
- Reason for referral
- Speciality referred to
- Referral date
For more information, please see the Consensus on the NCL Primary & Secondary Care Interface
Do you need to come to the Emergency Department?
The Emergency Department is located at University College Hospital and is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year for anyone seeking healthcare for an urgent medical problem related to an accident or illness. A&E can be very busy and should be used for those patients needing only urgent medical attention. The entrance is on Gower Street.
For non-emergency problems (such as coughs, colds, sore throats, flu-like symptoms and urinary tract infections and prescriptions) please consider other treatment options such as:
- Calling NHS 111 on 111 on any telephone - this service offers health information and advice from a specially trained nurse over the phone, 24 hours a day
- Calling your GP surgery to be seen by an emergency doctor or to make an appointment to see your usual doctor.
- Attending a Walk-In Centre - these provide fast and convenient access to healthcare advice and treatment for minor illnesses and injury. No appointment is necessary. Please contact NHS 111 to find out where your nearest walk-in centre is located. (Please note: UCLH does not have a Walk-In-Centre.)
For more information, see our Alternatives to A&E page.
Referral address
Emergency Department
University College Hospital
Accident and Emergency (A&E)
Ground Floor
235 Euston Road
London NW1 2BU
Coming to ED can feel stressful. We aim to make your visit as smooth and quick as possible while giving you the best care.
How we prioritise care
We treat the most seriously ill patients first. This means someone who arrived after you may be seen before you. We understand this can be frustrating and will call you as soon as we can.
Check-in and triage
When you arrive, check in at reception. You’ll be asked for your details and directed to a waiting area.A triage nurse will then ask questions and check things like your temperature, pulse and blood pressure. Based on this, you’ll go to:
- Rapid Assessment and Treatment (RAT) or
- Urgent Treatment Centre (UTC)
Rapid Assessment and Treatment (RAT) and Majors
In RAT, you may have tests or scans. A senior doctor will decide next steps. You may then move to Majors for further care, monitoring or tests. From here, you may:
- Go home
- Move to Same Day Emergency Care (SDEC)
- Be admitted to hospital
Urgent Treatment Centre (UTC)
Here you’ll be assessed by a GP, nurse practitioner or doctor. They may order tests and scans. You may then:
- Go home
- Move to another area for specialist review
Same Day Emergency Care (SDEC)
This area treats patients who can go home the same day. You may also be admitted if needed.
Resuscitation area
If you become very unwell, you’ll be moved here for urgent care.
Mental health support - Transient Assessment Facility (TAF)
We have safe spaces for patients with acute mental health needs. Not everyone with mental health concerns will go to this area.
After discharge
You may be given advice on what to do if symptoms return. Sometimes we’ll contact you later with test results or arrange an outpatient appointment. Your GP will also get a summary of your visit via electronic letter.
We understand that having a family member or loved one with you can help reduce stress. We try to allow visitors where possible, but our main priority is giving patients safe, timely care.
Because of space and safety, visitors are not always allowed in every area of the ED. Our team will explain the visiting rules as you move through your care.
If you need someone to stay with you for a specific reason, please tell a member of staff as soon as possible. A clinical staff member will decide if this is possible. This may change depending on space or where you are being treated.
Thank you for your understanding and support.
If you have additional needs, coming to the Emergency Department (ED) can feel overwhelming. When you arrive, please let the reception team and your care team know about any extra support you need and how we can help.
We understand that the noise, bright lights, and unpredictability in ED can be difficult. We will do our best to find a quieter space with less light and noise for you. Sometimes, when we are very busy, this may take a little longer.
We also have autism champions in ED. These are experienced staff members who can offer extra help and support during your visit.
