In our hospitals, all urgent and emergency care is provided from our two A&E departments at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital and Cheltenham General Hospital.

What is an emergency?

An emergency includes:

• life or limb-threatening injuries
• serious head injuries
• chest pain
• severe abdominal (stomach) pains
• heavy bleeding
• broken limbs (fractures)
• choking
• breathing difficulties

Get advice with ASAP

We know that it's not always easy to know where to go when you need help with illness or injury but it's not an emergency.

For most everyday ailments, a trip to A&E is not the answer.

The ASAP website and App allow you to ‘Search by Service’ or ‘Search by Condition’ – providing a step-by-step guide through symptoms, self care and signposting to the appropriate NHS service.

Take a look and download the app now.

Minor Injuries and Illness Units (MIIUs)

Community Minor Injury and Illness Units (MIIUs) treat a range of health issues, waits are generally short and there is free parking available.

MIIUs are staffed by highly trained nurses and paramedics, most are open 8am to 8pm every day, including weekends.

By calling first through the local MIIU line - 111, you can get a booked appointment at the most appropriate Unit for your needs. It’s still possible to just walk in, but you may have to wait longer to be seen.

Information on locations, opening hours and the range of services provided is available on Gloucestershire Health and Care's MIIU page and on the ASAP glos website.

Minor Injury Units

There are also Minor Injury Units at Tetbury Hospital (open 8.30am to 4pm – Mon to Fri) and at Winchcombe Medical Centre (open 8.15am to 6.30pm – Mon – Fri).

Urgent care for children

Our leaflet about children's emergencies gives parents a handy guide to symptoms and where to take your child when they need medical attention.

Minor injuries

If your child has a minor injury it may be best for them to attend your local Minor Injury Unit or GP rather than the Emergency Department (A&E). Please visit 111.nhs.uk or visit the ASAP site

Urgent care

If your child is critically ill or needs to be admitted to one of our hospitals please call 999 and they will be taken via ambulance to Gloucestershire Royal Hospital (GRH). This is where our specialist children's doctors are based and they can provide your child with the care they need.

Please note there is no longer a paediatric assessment facility at Cheltenham General Hospital so if your child is likely require an overnight stay in hospital and you are bringing them to hospital yourself, please go straight to GRH.

Urgent care if you are pregnant

If you become unwell while pregnant and need to attend the Emergency Department (A&E) you may be transferred to Gloucestershire Royal Hospital where you can be cared for with the help of trained obstetricians and midwives who are based in our state-of-the-art Women's Centre.

If you have a general concern about your health during pregnancy please call your midwife for advice, or call our Maternity Advice Line or the delivery suites or birth units for advice and support. Read more about contacting our maternity services.

Visiting and accompanying patients

You may remain with patients who need emergency care until they are assessed. If you would rather wait outside the department, please ensure that the patient has your contact details.

Once patients have booked in at reception, one family member or visitor may remain with them until they have had their first assessment with the triage nurse. After this the nurse may ask visitors to leave unless the patient:

• has a learning difficulty or disability
• has dementia, delirium or a cognitive impairment
• has an acute mental health need
• needs a carer
• is pregnant
• is elderly or frail
• is vulnerable
• is under 16 (one parent only)
• other reasons at the discretion of the senior emergency department team