Why do I have to wait in the emergency department?
The emergency department welcomes all patients:
- Some come spontaneously, others are sent by their general practitioner.
- Some have more serious health problems than others.
Treatment in the emergency department includes a clinical examination, but also in some cases :
- Prescription of laboratory or radiology tests.
- Seeking specialist advice.
You also have to wait for the results of additional tests:
- Between 1 and 2 hours for a blood test.
- Between 15 and 40 minutes for an X-ray.
- Between 15 minutes and 2 hours for an ultrasound scan, CT scan or MRI.
For all these reasons, waiting times at the emergency department can be long.
If you have a non-urgent health problem, you will be referred to your general practitioner to avoid an unnecessary wait.
Do ambulances and rescue services have priority?
When an ambulance arrives at the emergency department, we have a duty to release the crew quickly. They must be able to intervene as quickly as possible if they have another person to rescue.
However, patients arriving by ambulance are not necessarily seen first. Patients are only classified according to the seriousness of their pathology.
Why are some patients seen before me when they arrived after me?
All patients arriving at the emergency department must register with the receptionist and state the reason for their visit. The reason for the visit determines whether or not the patient is given priority.
If a patient is seen before you, this means that they have a more serious health problem that requires immediate care.
Can I choose the doctor who treats me in the emergency department?
You cannot choose the doctor who treats you.
All emergency department doctors are trained and specialised in emergency care. They are multi-skilled and can treat medical, surgical and traumatological conditions.
Why can't I accompany a patient to the care area?
The care area is where the patient is examined and treated. It is not a waiting room.
Emergency department staff will keep you informed throughout the care of your relative or friend, wherever possible.
However, in certain situations, the family may be allowed to keep the patient company in the treatment area. This is particularly the case when the patient is under 18.
Why are there no meals in the emergency department?
The emergency department is a reception, triage and care area for all patients who come.
Priority is therefore given to treatment, pain relief and emergency care.
Why is it difficult to get information when I'm in the waiting room?
There are several reasons why nursing staff give priority to the patient and their care:
- There are many patients to care for.
- There are not many treatment rooms.
- The results of additional tests can take several hours to arrive.
Emergency department staff will do their best to keep you informed about the state of health of your relative or friend, and the progress of their treatment.
Why don't I stay in an examination room until I get my results?
There are only a limited number of examination rooms. In order to treat as many patients as possible as quickly as possible, it is important to clear each room quickly, unless the patient's state of health does not allow it.
Once you have passed through the examination room, you will be seated in a corridor while you wait for your results.
Why do I have to show my administrative documents every time I come to the emergency department?
A patient file must be created and your identity checked each time you come to the emergency department. Your documents are not kept after your visit.