Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To assess the number of attendances by hospital staff at an accident and emergency (A&E) department, and reasons for their attendance. METHODS: A&E attendances by hospital staff were studied for a 12 month period. Comparison was made with attendances by non-hospital staff in full or part time employment. Differences between the observed and expected numbers of attendances were analysed using chi 2 analysis. RESULTS: 560 staff attendances were recorded out of 78,103 total attendances. There was an observed excess number of attendances by nursing staff for work related incidents when compared to the control group (P = 0.01). However, there were fewer attendances by nursing staff for non-work related incidents (P = 0.01). Staff other than doctors and nurses attended the A&E department more frequently than the control group for non-work related incidents (P = 0.01), but their attendance for incidents occurring at work were the same as the control group (P = NS). CONCLUSIONS: The increased use of A&E resources by staff other than doctors and nurses may be inappropriate and further research into their reasons for attendance is warranted.