From now on a new triage model will begin to be rolled out, which will mean that patients who come direct to the Emergency Department (A&E) at the Royal Oldham Hospital will experience a different way of being treated.

On arrival, they will be assessed by a clinical member of staff and will then be either:

• Transferred to another department in the hospital or community
• Where clinically required, referred into the emergency department
• Given an appointment time to come back to a hospital department.
• Given an appointment with a GP
• Advised to contact their own GP or go to a pharmacy
• Provided with self-care advice

Later in the year, as part of a national programme, patients will be asked to contact NHS 111 first, whether online or by phone, if they have an urgent medical need, as an alternative to self-presenting as a walk-in to the Emergency Department.