As the NHS suggests
“A&E (accident and emergency) is for serious injuries and life-threatening emergencies only. It is also known as the emergency department or casualty.”
The NHS provides a brief summary of when you should be seen in A&E immediately and how you can call 111 if you are not sure what you should do
You can find any accident and emergency service through the NHS search engine
Find Accident and emergency services services – NHS
Commonly used accident and emergency departments include:
Stoke Mandeville hospital (Buckinghamshire Healthcare Trust)
Wexham Park Hospital (Frimley Healthcare Trust)
Hillingdon Hospital
Milton Keynes Hospital
The common eye emergencies are covered under Opticians see under the question “What serious symptoms and signs require assessment in an eye casualty (emergencies)?” in the local support self-referral section.
If you have an eye emergency then you are better calling 111 to direct you to where to go as not all the eye casualties are open 24 hours
Prince Charles Eye Unit (Windsor) and Royal Berkshire Eye Casualty (Reading) (Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust)
Check opening times before attending these units
Stoke Mandeville hospital (Buckinghamshire Healthcare Trust)
No direct access (Accident and Emergency department will refer you in an emergency situation.)
Emergency eye services Eye Care (Ophthalmology) – Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust
The NHS suggest when you should be seen in A&E immediately
When to go to A&E – NHS
Rather than going to A&E if you are not sure, you can call 111 or get help online and they will advise you. They can also book an appointment at the closest urgent treatment centre, if that is a better option for you.
When to use NHS 111 – NHS
From the NHS
For information on common injuries and when you should go to A&E and when they might be dealt with by a minor injuries unit or self-care, see under
For further information on some of the more common conditions (symptoms and signs) which should be assessed in an accident and emergency department, see under
For further information on some of the more common eye conditions (symptoms and signs) which should be assessed in an eye casualty (specialist accident and emergency department dealing just with eye problems), see under
For information on local urgent treatment centres, see under
Remember if you are not sure what to do call 111 or go online for help.
When to use NHS 111 – NHS