Emergency department Emergency department An emergency department (ED), also known as an accident & emergency department (A&E), emergency room (ER), emergency ward (EW) or casualty department, is a medical treatment facility specializing in emergency medicine, the acute care of patients who present without prior appointment; either by their own means or by that of an ambulance. The emergency department is usually found in a hospital or other primary care center. Due to the unplanned nature of patient attendance, the department must provide initial treatment for a broad spectrum of illnesses and injuries, some of which may be life-threatening and require immediate attention.
Prince of Wales Hospital has treated 139,975 patients in the Accident and Emergency Department, 158,195 inpatients and day-patients, 766,386 specialist outpatients, and 466,390 general outpatients. Besides subsidised public services, the hospital has been providing private specialist outpatient services and private inpatient services since its opening in 1984 in collaboration with the Faculty of Medicine of CUHK. Charged at market rates, the private services are intended for patients who want to have access to the expertise and facilities of the hospital, which may not be available at private hospitals. Private service income is shared between the Hospital Authority, CUHK, and the departments and the doctors