Bolton NHS ABOUT US SERVICES A-Z PATIENTS & VISITORS WORK WITH US GET INVOLVED NEWS & VIEWS COVID-19 ADVICE Emergency Department No matter how busy our Emergency Department is, the most seriously ill and injured patients will always be seen immediately. To avoid unnecessary delays, we will redirect people who visit A&E when they could be treated elsewhere, to the most appropriate service. A&E is for emergency or life threatening conditions such as severe chest pain, difficulty breathing, or possible broken bones. To support patients with minor ailments and avoid unnecessary delays, people who visit our A&E department when they don’t need to, will be redirected to the most appropriate services. This could be your GP surgery or local pharmacy. To avoid being redirected, please choose the right service to suit your needs. If you are unsure about where to go for care or treatment, please visit NHS 111 online for advice and guidance. Choosing the right place will mean that we can save our urgent and emergency services for the people who need them most. Average waiting times Our Emergency Department is currently extremely busy. Waiting times are potentially over 4 hours. We will continue to keep you updated on how busy the department is so you know how long to expect to wait. Waiting times are subject to change but for an idea of how busy we are, please look out for the following categories: Normal activity – This means that our Emergency Department is busy, waiting times are between 1-2 hours. If you do not need urgent or emergency treatment, you will be safely supported to access an alternative service. Very busy – This means that our Emergency Department is currently very busy. Waiting times are approx. 2-4 hours. If you choose to visit us and do not need urgent or emergency treatment, you will be safely supported to access an alternative service. Extremely busy – This means that our Emergency Department is currently extremely busy. Waiting times are potentially over 4 hours. No matter how busy our Emergency Department is, the most seriously ill and injured patients will always be seen immediately. If you choose to visit us and do not need urgent or emergency treatment, you will be safely supported to access an alternative service. Measures in place to keep you safe EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT © 2012-2021 BOLTON NHS FT PRIVACY POLICY COOKIE POLICY ACCESSIBILITY TERMS AND CONDITIONS CONTACT USEFUL LINKS SITE MAP Twitter Facebook LinkedIn