What is emergency medicine?

Emergency medicine is the specialty concerned with the care of patients requiring immediate medical attention. The emergency physician must therefore be able to assess the seriousness (or otherwise) of the condition of the patient admitted to A&E, restore and stabilise (if necessary) the patient’s vital functions and refer the patient to the department capable of managing their condition.

What does an emergency physician do?

When arriving at A&E (either the patient arrives by themselves or by ambulance), the patient receives emergency care and is referred to the appropriate branch, depending on their general health and complaint. The patient is then transferred to the department most able to provide treatment, or discharged after a period of observation to ensure their condition has stabilised.

When to go to A&E

There are no hard and fast rules about when to go to A&E. However, so as not to unnecessarily overcrowd a service that has to be available to treat the most severe cases, it is good to be aware of certain signs that warrant an emergency consultation:

• Chest pain (feeling of discomfort, weight, vice-like sensation spreading to the shoulder, neck, left arm or the stomach that may indicate a heart attack)
• Abdominal pain, especially in women of childbearing age
• Extensive burns
• Sudden headache
• Allergic reaction
• Haemorrhage (the result of a cut or by natural means)
• High fever
• Unexplained swelling
• Shortness of breath
• Diarrhoea and severe vomiting, especially in children
• Probable fracture
• Sudden paralysis 
• Confusion, etc. 

In all cases, the patient should dial 15 (the emergency number in France) before going to A&E. Depending on the circumstances, the emergency services (SAMU) will send for emergency transport (SMUR) or an ambulance, advise the patient to go to A&E or to see the nearest GP.