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Accident and emergency (A&E) and 999 calls

Accident and emergency (A&E) departments provide immediate emergency care for people who show the symptoms of serious illness or are badly injured. A&E departments are open 24 hours every day.

Accident and emergency services should be used only in critical or life-threatening situations

NHS Accident and Emergency Services in West Sussex

You should call 999:

  • when you think that someone’s illness or injury is life threatening; or
  • they may become worse; or
  • without the skill of the ambulance service or their equipment you may cause further injury.

If you think a patient is suffering from one of the following, you must dial 999 for an ambulance:

  • Heart attack (e.g. chest pain for more than 15 minutes).
  • Sudden unexplained shortness of breath.
  • Heavy bleeding.
  • Unconsciousness (even if the patient has regained consciousness).
  • Traumatic back, spinal or neck pain.
  • Sudden onset of stroke symptoms which include numbness, weakness or paralysis on one side of the body (signs of this may be a drooping arm, leg or lower eyelid, or a dribbling mouth), slurred speech or difficulty finding words or understanding speech, sudden blurred vision or loss of sight, a severe headache, and confusion or unsteadiness.

Did you know?

There are alternatives to A&E

Before going to Accident and Emergency (A&E) consider if you would get the right treatment at a minor injuries unit (MIU) or urgent treatment centre (UTC).

Visit our page about minor injuries units and urgent treatment centres to:

  • Find out more about their treatment.
  • Find out which hospitals in West Sussex offer these services.

Local hospitals with A&E departments

East Surrey Hospital, Redhill

Canada Avenue
Redhill
Surrey
RH1 5RH

Tel: 01737 768511

www.surreyandsussex.nhs.uk/sites/east_surrey/

Princess Royal Hospital, Haywards Heath

Lewes Road
Haywards Heath
West Sussex
RH16 4EX

Tel: 01444 441881

www.bsuh.nhs.uk/hospitals/our-hospitals/princess-royal-hospital/
 

Royal Sussex County Hospital, Brighton

Eastern Road
Brighton
BN2 5BE

Tel: 01273 696955

www.bsuh.nhs.uk/hospitals/our-hospitals/royal-sussex-county-hospital/
 

St Richard's Hospital, Chichester

Spitalfield Lane
Chichester
West Sussex
PO19 6SE

Tel: 01243 788122

www.rwst.nhs.uk/patient-information/patients-and-visitors/getting-to-st-richards-hospital-and-parking/
 

Worthing Hospital

Lyndhurst Road
Worthing
West Sussex
BN11 2DH

Tel: 01903 205111

www.worthinghospital.nhs.uk/Finding_us/worthing_hospital/