Introduction

At Teaching Hospital Peradeniya, we understand that emergencies can happen at any time, and we are here to provide you with the immediate, expert care you need. Our Accident and Emergency Department (A&E) is staffed 24/7 with medical professionals dedicated to treating a wide range of urgent health issues, from minor injuries to life-threatening conditions.

Categories of patients seen

We see patients from age 14 years and above with all acute illnesses or injuries.

However obstetric related admissions will be streamed directly to the specialised units bypassing the A&E unless there is any critical illness that needs immediate attention.

Children under 14 years are not admitted and sent to Sirimavo Bandaranaike Specialised Children’s Hospital unless unstable on arrival.

What we offer

  • 24/7 availability: We function around the clock
  • Experienced Team: We have Consultant Emergency Physicians ,skilled doctors, nurses and supportive staff
  • Multidisciplinary specialty services: Medicine, cardiology, Respiratory, Neurology, Nephrology, Rheumatology, toxicology, Haematology, Surgery, Orthopaedic, Plastic surgery, OMF, Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Paediatrics and Neonatology, Sports Medicine, Transfusion medicine, Anaesthesia and Critical care specialists
  • Advanced technology: We utilise new technology and equipment to provide accurate diagnosis and prompt treatment
  • Comprehensive care: From initial assessment to stabilisation and treatment we provide a wide spectrum of emergency services
  • Patient centred approach: Your comfort is our priority, ensuring good communication and compassionate care throughout your stay.

Our services

  • Medical Emergencies
    • Cardiac Emergencies
      • Our rapid response teams can manage acute heart attacks, heart failures, and other cardiac events ensuring life saving treatment.
      • The nearest Cath Lab facilities are available at NHK and patients will be transferred immediately if necessary.
    • Respiratory Emergencies
      • All causes of shortness of breath: COPD & asthma exacerbations, pneumothorax, chest infections are diagnosed and treated with advanced ventilatory equipment
    • Stroke care
      • We manage acute strokes with the availability of a stroke specialist support 24/7
    • Infections
      • We are able to make prompt diagnosis of sepsis and treat life threatening infections
  • Acute trauma care and surgical conditions
    • Our trauma teams are geared to handle injuries from falls, vehicle accidents and assaults.
    • Neurosurgical, cardiothoracic, ENT and eye injuries will be stabilised and referred to NHK for specialist input and transferred if required.
    • Trauma and surgical patients needing inward care will follow the below criteria for admission:
      • Trauma and Surgical admissions – Only on Sundays
      • Orthopaedic related admissions – Thursday and Sundays only
      • Any THP followup patients will be admitted 24/7 if indicated
      • All other days, trauma and surgical patients will be transferred to NHK surgical casualty after initial stabilisation and treatment.
      • Minor injuries and minor surgical problems will be treated and sent home from the A&E
    • Gynaecology and Obstetrics
      • We admit all related emergencies with the availability of the specialist service 24/7
    • Acute psychiatry Emergencies
      • We see all mental health emergencies (Acute depression, suicidal attempts, acute psychosis, aggressive behaviour) with support by the Psychiatry team 24/7
    • Poisoning and snake bites/ animal bites
      • Our teams are trained in managing acute poisoning and toxinological emergencies with the availability of a dedicated toxicology unit 24/7.
      • Once stabilised patients will be admitted to the specialised Toxicology unit.
    • Rabies post exposure therapy
      • Immediate treatment for Animal bites with potential rabies is provided at our A&E with the support of the Rabies Unit at OPD.
    • Advanced Imaging and laboratory support
      • We have access to in hospital CT, ultrasound, X-Ray and laboratory investigations

Admission to A&E

All unbooked admissions will admit to the A&E through a triage process. All emergencies will be managed and stabilised before admission to specialised units. However patients with illnesses or injuries who do not need admission will be sent home from the A&E with medication or a followup plan.

How to get admitted to A&E

  • You might arrive directly on your own or sometimes via an ambulance (transfered from another hospital, 1990 or private health care system) depending on your illness.
  • A physician, OPD or a clinic might refer you for an acute illness for admission.
  • You might be transferred from a different hospital for further care.

Once you arrive at the hospital the staff will direct you to the triage desk at the front main entrance.

 

How quickly will you be seen? What is A&E triage?

Triage is a process of sorting patients depending on how sick they are.

A triage nurse will check your parameters and determine your triage category. This process is important for giving priority for the most sick patients over less sick patients. The triage nurse will direct you for admission. If you are very sick the staff will attend to you immediately.

Once admitted to the A&E

You or your carer will need to register your details in the HIMS (Health Information Management System) at the reception office near the hallway before officially admitting to the A&E. However this will not delay any patient management if you are very sick. Once you are registered in the HIMS the A&E nurse will admit you to the department. A doctor will ask your history and examine you to help with your illness or injuries.

We will do necessary lab investigations, ECG, imaging as required to help treat you and make you feel better.

If you require other expertise, relevant teams will come and see you in the A&E to help with the diagnosis and management. Any expertise needed from National Hospital Kandy will be consulted as required.

You will have one of the following outcomes at the A&E,

  • Admission to a specialist unit or transfer to a different hospital (NHK) for continuing care
  • Discharge home with treatment and advise
  • Refer to a specialist outpatient clinic if you do not require inward treatment.

Important information when you visit the A&E

  • Make sure you bring your medical records, past ECGs, and images if any
  • Please continue your routine medication unless contraindicated or any other valid reason not to
  • Bring any referral letters from your doctor or referring physician
  • Please divulge all important details about your illness to help the staff treat you better
  • Please inform us of any change in symptoms while in the A&E
  • Please be patient in waiting to be seen as the department is busy mostly with very sick patients.
  • Once admitted please do not leave the department without formal permission.
  • Adults with children – please make arrangements as we cannot offer child care during your treatment and will pose a health hazard for them.
  • Your belongings (money, jewellery, phones, electronics)
    • Please avoid bringing valuables in to the department
    • If you happen to have any valuables you can hand over them to your next of kin and to the incharge nursing officer on shift for safe keeping.
  • Mobile phones
    • Please refrain from making phone calls during ward rounds to help see you and other patients better
    • Photos, Videos or voice recording inside the A&E is strictly prohibited to ensure patient and staff privacy and safety
  • Weapons, illicit drugs, alcohol is prohibited in the A&E
  • Visitors – only one visitor is allowed during visiting hours. However a bystander may come in for an urgent matter with permission from the staff. Frequent visitors will congest the ward posing a safety threat for all patients and staff
  • Food is not provided as the maximum stay in the A&E is 24 hours.

Additional information

  • Meet our team
  • FAQ
  • Health and safety information
  • Local resources