A&E is for life-threatening emergencies
Unless your condition is life threatening, please don’t just turn up or walk into the emergency department (A&E). Please think pharmacist, GP or NHS 111 online first. In an emergency, always call 999.
The accident and emergency (A&E) department at The James Cook University Hospital deals with genuine life-threatening emergencies 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. This includes:
loss of consciousness
acute confused state and fits that are not stopping
breathing difficulties
severe bleeding that cannot be stopped
severe allergic reactions
severe burns or scalds
major trauma such as a road traffic accident
Emergency department construction works
Works have started to create a new triage and reception area in the emergency department at The James Cook University Hospital.
Patients and ambulances can continue to access all urgent and emergency care services as normal.
Arrangements have been made to temporarily move the triage area within the department so patients can be seen as normal while the works take place.
This development is the next part of the £9million investment in urgent and emergency care facilities that started with the opening of the urgent treatment centre in April 2024.
Please note that while these internal alterations are carried out until 30 April the size of the emergency department waiting area will be temporarily reduced.
As seating in the emergency department will be limited while this work takes place, patients are being urged to please only bring one person with them or to attend alone where possible.
The urgent treatment centre and the children and young person’s emergency department waiting areas will not be affected by the works.
If you have any concerns about visiting the emergency department during these works please contact:
Minor illness or injury?
Minor injuries and minor illnesses should be treated at our urgent treatment centres.
Eye casualty
Major trauma network
We provide the regional major trauma centre for Durham, East Cleveland, Tees Valley and North Yorkshire and are one of only a few UK hospitals that can receive helicopters day or night.
The hospital is part of a network of major trauma centres across the country ensuring patients with serious and life-threatening injuries are treated quickly in a specialist hospital where expert staff are available round the clock.
Our trauma team is made up of doctors and nurses from emergency medicine, anaesthetics, orthopaedics, surgery, intensive care and radiology.
The team has immediate access to specialists in paediatrics, plastics, vascular, maxillofacial, cardiothoracic and neurosurgery.
If you have a serious injury the air ambulance can bypass other hospitals and bring you straight here. Our trauma team will be ready and waiting.
Whether it’s an injury to head, chest, abdomen, pelvis, face, spine, bones, soft tissues, whether adult or child, all our specialties are here on one site.
James Cook is a regional level 1 trauma centre as well as a supra-regional spinal injury centre.
#DoYourBit – choose the right NHS service
Do your bit and help protect the NHS so we can provide emergency care for those who really need it.
- If your need is not life threatening, please do not come into A&E without first seeking advice from NHS 111, a pharmacist or your GP.
- For minor illnesses or minor injuries go to your nearest urgent treatment centre.
- For urgent dental advice call 0300 123 1933.
- Can’t get an urgent appointment with your South Tees GP? Ask them to make you an evening or weekend appointment with South Tees Access Response (STAR) GP hubs or call 111.
Not sure what to do?
NHS 111 can help if you need urgent medical help or you are not sure what to do.
They will ask questions about your symptoms so you get the help you need.
If you need to go to the emergency department or an urgent treatment centre, NHS 111 can book you an arrival time where appropriate so you spend less time waiting.
You can get help from 111.nhs.uk or call 111 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Get help from 111.nhs.uk