Emergency Departments (A&E)

About our A&E

Our emergency departments at the John Radcliffe Hospital and Horton General Hospital. Both are open 24 hours a day.

Switchboard: 0300 304 7777

The John Radcliffe Hospital has a dedicated Children's Emergency Department.

The Children's Emergency Department is also open 24 hours a day.

Eye emergencies

Please visit Eye emergencies

Dental emergencies

The Emergency Departments do not treat dental emergencies.

To find your local NHS dentist please visit:

Find a dentist - NHS website

If you have a dental emergency please call NHS 111.

Dental Access Centres

These are for patients who do not have a dentist or who have a dental emergency.

• Mondays to Fridays 8.30am - 4.30pm
  The opening hours at some of the smaller clinics may vary so please check first.
• Referral Centre and Salaried Dental Service: 01869 604040

Out of Hours dentistry service

Please see the Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust website

Medical students

The John Radcliffe Hospital is a teaching hospital, which means that medical or nursing students may be involved in your care. If you would prefer students not to be present during your treatment, please let our staff know. Your decision will not affect the care that we give you.

Coming to A&E

John Radcliffe Hospital Emergency Department reception: 01865 740400

On arrival please go to reception and tell them:

• your name and address
• your date of birth
• why you are here
• the name of your GP.

Disabled access

Our hospitals are accessible and accessible toilets are available in public areas and on wards.

Wheelchairs

Ask at reception if you need a wheelchair or assistance.

Minor injuries

We will give you your paperwork and show you the way to the Nurse Assessment Area. Please wait in the waiting room. The nurse will ask you about the reason for your visit to the Emergency Department.

Patients are prioritised depending on the severity of their condition. This means that some patients who arrive later than you may be seen by the Doctor before you are. After your assessment, please take a seat in the waiting room, where waiting times are displayed.

Major injuries

Please take a seat and a nurse will come and call for you. Please wait in your cubicle for a doctor to come and see you or for your tests to be done.

Tests include:

• X-rays
• blood tests
• electrocardiograms (ECGs)
• urine tests
• blood pressure tests.

After your tests, please take a seat in the waiting room again to wait for the results. Some results come back quicker than others; blood test results may take up to two hours.

Treatment and medicines

The Doctor or Nurse Practitioner will look at the results of your tests. If you need treatment from a specialist, they will be called from elsewhere in the hospital. If you don't need to see a specialist, the Emergency Department staff will give you help and advice. You may have to come back to a clinic, or go to your GP for follow-up care.

If you have been prescribed medication to take home with you, you will need to go to the Pharmacy. Each prescription costs £9.35 per item, unless you have a valid exemption certificate.

We are not usually able to provide transport for our patients to get home. It is best to contact a friend or relative to collect you, or call a taxi if possible.

Find us

John Radcliffe Hospital

How to find the John Radcliffe Hospital

The Emergency Department at the John Radcliffe Hospital is to the left as you come up the main drive from Headley Way.

There are drop-off bays alongside the building. Please do not park in ambulance bays or the ambulance bays' turning circle at the Minors end of the ramp.

If bringing a patient, please stop in a drop-off bay and go into ED Minors to get a wheelchair or assistance.

Drivers, please park in visitor car parks while waiting for patients to be treated, and do not block the drop-off bays.

Horton General Hospital

How to find the Horton General Hospital

The Emergency Department at the Horton General Hospital is next to the main entrance off Hightown Road.

Working for us

Emergency Medicine - Oxford University Hospitals