For Patients

The Emergency Department exists to support the vital, lifesaving work that happens at Cork University Hospital every minute of every day. It is there for all people and all conditions. Often patients sent into hospital for emergency admission usually have little time for choice, nor the control and self-determination that go with it. 

Patients and the public expect to receive high quality, safe care where and when they need it. Our Goal of Patient Centred Care is about treating patients with dignity, respect and compassion. Being kind is a way people understand caring, we stress the importance of being kind to our patients and kind to each other every day.

Each element in the sequence of patient care delivery by staff in the Emergency Department is vital to safe care. Whether it be the accurate inputting and reassuring smile of Reception staff, the sense of feeling safe thanks to the reassuring presence of our Security staff, the cleanliness of the department or that cup of tea in the middle of the night provided by Housekeeping, and the prompt transport of patients to theatre or the cath lab by our portering team, there is an overwhelming sense of teamwork across all disciplines and that by all working together to achieve this mutual goal of best care and outcome for our patients. This is our primary moral value held by the Emergency Department. We sense check each other, informally and through interdisciplinary meetings, external and professional bodies and invest heavily in education, audit and research work.

All staff, working with courage and grace move heaven and earth to manage our patients. Team spirit is defined by feelings of camaraderie among members of the group, enabling them to cooperate and work well together; this is crucial to a work environment. We feel blessed by the generations of staff who work so hard for our patients and for each member on the team. Some are starting out on their career; others have learnt through life and professional experience and give back to others. Staff who manage the Department 24/7, promote the virtues of kindness, empathy and compassion when carrying out their duties within the Emergency Care Setting. 

While we work to do the most for the most in an increasingly technologically advanced and complex care environment, we strive to deliver individualised care, with the patient at the heart of all we do.