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.
University Hospital Waterford University Hospital Waterford University Hospital Waterford (formerly known as "Ardkeen Hospital", and later "Waterford Regional Hospital" abbreviated as "WRH") is a public teaching hospital located in Waterford, County Waterford, Ireland. It is managed by the Irish Government's Health Service Executive and provides acute-care hospital services, including a 24-hour emergency department, for the population of County Waterford and the South East. In 2008, the hospital served 122,837 out-patients, and 23,367 in-patients, with an average stay of 6.3 nights. In 2009, 65,160 patients presented to the emergency department, of which 17,264 were admitted. 70.7% of all admissions were made via the accident