Emergency department
Overview
A&E departments are open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to treat people with serious and life threatening emergencies.
Routine testing for HIV, hepatitis B and C
From April 4, 2022, all patients over the age of 16 years who visit a London emergency department and require a blood test, will be tested for HIV, hepatitis B and C.
We already screen for several infections or conditions when we take your blood, and these additional checks are now part of our routine screening programme at the Royal Free Hospital and Barnet Hospital.
This is in line with guidance from the Royal College of Emergency Medicine, Public Health England and NHS England and is part of the government’s commitment to reducing HIV transmission to zero by 2030.
Early diagnosis of blood-borne viruses such as HIV, hepatitis B and C means people can access the treatment they need sooner and expect to live long and healthy lives.
Many people living with HIV do not know they have the virus as it can take years for symptoms to develop. By testing in this way, treatment can be given sooner and prevent the virus from being passed on.
If you do not wish to be screened for these conditions when you attend one of our emergency departments, please let a member of staff know. This will not affect the care you receive from us.
For more information on routine testing for HIV, hepatitis B and C in our emergency departments, please see our patient leaflet which is available in Arabic, English, English in braille, English large print, Persian, Polish, Romanian, Russian. English large print and English in braille are available on request from the department.
Choosing the right service
If you would like professional advice regarding your health, the NHS provides a range of services to help you get well. Make sure you choose the right service for you.
Our emergency departments
The trust has two emergency department s(also known as A&E and the ED), one at Barnet Hospital and one at Royal Free Hospital
The EDs provide treatment for those aged 18 and over who require immediate care, either as a result of an accident or in a medical or surgical emergency. The departments are staffed by skilled medical and nursing staff with specific training in emergency care 24-hours a day, 365 days a year. Patients can access these services either directly, by GP referral or, if necessary, by ambulance.
As well as providing emergency care for adults, Barnet Hospital has a dedicated children and young people's ED staffed by paediatric consultants and nurses.
We aim to provide all relevant services in a timely manner and we constantly strive to meet the Government's aim to have all treatment provided within four hours. Occasionally we are extremely busy and may not manage this. If this occurs we ask for your understanding and patience. We will always treat patients in the order of clinical need.
Our urgent care centres
Urgent care centres treat urgent but not life-threatening injuries and illnesses such as sprains and strains, broken bones, minor burns and scalds, minor head and eye injuries, bites and stings.
The urgent care centre at Chase Farm Hospital is open 8am to 10pm every day, staffed by GPs and emergency nurse practitioners. Find out more.
Other local urgent and emergency care providers
Our services may not be the closest to you. Take a look at our list of local urgent and emergency care providers for alternative services that you may wish to consider.
Contact
Do you have an appointment?
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Barnet Hospital
Wellhouse Lane
Barnet
EN5 3DJPatient and GP enquiries: 0845 111 4000
Urgent care: 020 8216 4600
Note: more information about the children and young people's emergency department can be found here.
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Royal Free Hospital
Pond Street
London
NW3 2QG
Tel: 020 7794 0500Note: more information about the children and young people's emergency department can be found here.
Referrals
Referral details
Patients can access these services either directly as a walk in, by GP referral or by ambulance. If attending Barnet Hospital or the Royal Free Hospital with minor injury or illness, please present to the emergency department (formerly called A&E) where you will be assessed and transferred to an urgent care centre if appropriate.
Once patients have been assessed their care will be prioritised according to their clinical need. They will be directed to the most appropriate team for their care.
Please note that the Marlborough sexual health clinic at the Royal Free Hospital is open daily and is more likely to be appropriate for sexual health problems.
We do not deal with dental emergencies - you should contact your own dentist or visit NHS Choices to find your nearest emergency dentist.
If a patient is not fluent in English it is very helpful if a friend or a member of the family can act as an interpreter for them.
The Team
Consultant
Mr Nishal Amin
Consultant in emergency medicine
Email address: nishal.amin@nhs.net
PA/secretary phone number: 020 7794 0500 ex 33371
Dr Hilary Connor
Consultant in emergency medicine.
Email address: Hilary.connor@nhs.net
PA/secretary phone number: 020 7794 0500 ext 33371
Dr Jonathan Costello
Consultant in emergency medicine and honorary senior lecturer at University College London.
Phone number: 020 7794 0500 ext 38002/33371
Dr Russell Durkin
Consultant in emergency medicine
Phone number: 020 7794 0500 ext 33371
Email address: russelldurkin@nhs.net
Mr Adrian Fogarty
Consultant in accident and emergency medicine
Phone number: 020 7830 2126
Email address: adrian.fogarty@nhs.net
Fax: 020 7830 2985
Dr Rimal Shah
Consultant emergency medicine
Phone number: 020 8216 4197
Email address: rimal.shah@nhs.net
PA/secretary phone number: 020 8216 5012
Mr Brijendra Shravat
Consultant in emergency medicine and trauma director
Phone number: 020 8216 4197
Email address: bshravat@nhs.net
Dr Tara Sood
Consultant emergency medicine
Phone number: 020 7830 2126
Email address: tara.sood@nhs.net
Dr Erik Witt
Consultant in Emergency Medicine
Phone number: 020 7794 0500 ext 39469
Email address: ewitt1@nhs.net
Other key team members
Mrs Rosie Skrypak
Clinical Lead Occupational Therapist
Phone number: 020 7794 0500 ext 35672 bleep 1053
Email address: rosie.skrypak@nhs.net
Patient leaflets
Read our patient leaflets and publications
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Routine testing for HIV,hepatitisB and C in the emergency department (Large Print)
.pdf (164 KB)
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Intravenous sedation
.pdf (386 KB)
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Kidney stone service for A&E patients
.pdf (201 KB)
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Approved: 23/06/2022
Visiting Barnet paediatric emergency department with concerns about your mental health
.pdf (176 KB)
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Approved: 28/03/2022
Routine testing for HIV, hepatitis B and C in the emergency department (Russian)
.pdf (177 KB)
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Approved: 28/03/2022
Routine testing for HIV, hepatitis B and C in the emergency department (Romanian)
.pdf (163 KB)
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Approved: 28/03/2022
Routine testing for HIV, hepatitis B and C in the emergency department (Polish)
.pdf (165 KB)
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Approved: 28/03/2022
Routine testing for HIV, hepatitis B and C in the emergency department (Persian)
.pdf (199 KB)
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Approved: 28/03/2022
Routine testing for HIV, hepatitis B & C in the emergency department (Arabic)
.pdf (191 KB)
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Approved: 28/03/2022
Routine testing for HIV, hepatitis B and C in the emergency department
.pdf (160 KB)
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Approved: 30/11/2021
Visiting our Barnet paediatric emergency department
.pdf (153 KB)
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Approved: 16/08/2019
Elbow soft tissue injuries – discharge advice
.pdf (260 KB)