Emergency Department

Our Emergency Departments are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week for anyone seeking treatment for an urgent problem caused by an accident or illness.

Please be aware that our Emergency Departments can get very busy at times. There were 130,000 visits to our Emergency Departments last year.

Emergency Departments are often referred to as Accident & Emergency (A&E).

What to do if you're feeling unwell

If you’re feeling unwell or someone you care for is feeling unwell, please phone 111 First. They will help you find the right service for you. They might direct you to one of our Emergency Departments, our Urgent Treatment Centres or one of our other services.

Phone 999 if you, or anyone you live with has symptoms of a serious illness or injury such as a heart attack, severe pain, stroke or severe bleeding.

Responding to Covid-19

While we respond to Covid-19 we want to reassure you that our Emergency Departments at Conquest Hospital and Eastbourne DGH are available if you need them.

We have made a number of changes to keep you and our members of staff safe while we respond to Covid-19.

If you’re advised to come to one of our Emergency Departments, you should bring a face covering with you if you have one
If you can, we ask that you attend the Emergency Department alone to help us maintain social distancing
When you check in with the person at the reception desk, one of our Emergency Department staff will take your temperature and staff will assist you to complete a Covid-19 symptom questionnaire
Those who are assessed as not having Covid-19 will continue their treatment in a ‘green area’ which will keep you and other patients screened as Covid-19 negative, separate from unscreened or Covid-19 positive patients.
Those who are assessed as having suspected Covid-19 will continue their treatment in a ‘red area’.
While you are in the Emergency Department waiting room you will be asked to adhere to social distancing guidelines. Please follow the signs, stay two metres away from other patients and use the seats that you’re directed to use
As much as possible we will try to see, treat and discharge you on the same day.
Patients who are likely to be admitted overnight will be tested for Covid-19 and then will be admitted to the appropriate ward.

We hope that this reassures you about the work we’re doing to keep you as safe as possible while you’re in our hospitals.

Help us help you – Accessing Urgent Care – Emergency Department

Appropriate conditions to use an Emergency department

Chest pains and heart attacks
Major trauma such as road traffic accidents
Breathing problems such as shortness of breath and chronic diseases such as asthma and emphysema
Unconsciousness / reduced consciousness
Abdominal pain or injuries
All electrical burns
Burns

People who use emergency services for minor problems may prevent others with emergencies from getting immediate care. If you attend an Emergency Department and your condition is not an emergency, you may be advised to contact your own family doctor or GP.

Emergency departments

Conquest Hospital

The Ridge, St Leonards-on-Sea

0300 131 4500

Eastbourne DGH

Kings Drive, Eastbourne

0300 131 4500

Emergency Department Consultants and SAS doctors

Dr Shijas Abdul Salam

Specialty Doctor

Dr Amjad Al Haddad

Specialty Doctor

Mr Mohammed Alam

Consultant - Emergency Medicine

Dr Barbara Apro

Trust Associate Specialist

Dr Paul Cornelius

Consultant - Emergency Medicine

Dr Lyudmil Dyakonov

Specialty Doctor

Dr Shaymau Habeeb

Consultant - Emergency Medicine

Mr Andrew Hobart

Consultant - Emergency Medicine

Dr Salomon Hurtado Taymes

Specialty Doctor

Dr Nadzeya Khlavets

Specialty Doctor

Dr Wolfgang Kloth

Specialty Doctor

Dr Selvakumar Marimuthu

Specialty Doctor

Dr Johan Mentor

Specialty Doctor

Dr Nielsholger Merkel

Specialty Doctor

Dr Amber Nocher

Specialty Doctor

Dr Ildiko Osko

Specialty Doctor

Dr Maria Rohan-Jimenez

Specialty Doctor

Mr Uthamalingam Shanker

Consultant - Emergency Medicine

Mr Salim Shubber

Consultant - Emergency Medicine

Dr Danielle Vidler

Consultant - Emergency Medicine

Dr Louise Watson

Specialty Doctor

Mr Ghassan Youssef

Consultant - Emergency Medicine

East Sussex Emergency NHS Dental Service

The Emergency Dental Service offers out of hours temporary Urgent treatment to patients who reside in East Sussex. Patients contacting the service will be triaged and an appointment will be offered to those that meet the criteria.

NHS 111

If you are not sure what to do, phone NHS ‘111’. NHS 111 is a service that makes it easier to access local NHS healthcare services. You can call 111 when you need medical help fast but it’s not a 999 emergency. NHS 111 is a fast and easy way to get the right help, whatever the time. Please consider whether your family doctor can help you before making your journey to an emergency department.