Reasons relevant to the patient's decision to attend A&E
| Frequency reported | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Reasons | Number | %* | Strength of reason for attending A&E |
| *Estimated proportion (%) of all non-urgent A&E attenders giving this reason. | |||
| Availability of other services | |||
| I don't have a GP | 6 | 3 | Medium |
| My GP was not available | 12 | 5 | Medium |
| Nowhere else has 24 hour open access | 66 | 30 | Weak |
| Awareness of other services | |||
| I didn't know where else to go | 33 | 15 | Weak |
| I am not aware of any other services | 33 | 16 | Weak |
| I don't know what other services are open... | 47 | 23 | Weak |
| I don't know if my GP is available | 16 | 8 | Weak |
| Patient preferences | |||
| I didn't want to see my GP | 13 | 3 | Medium |
| I can't always see the GP I would like | 6 | 2 | Medium |
| I didn't want to bother my GP | 10 | 4 | Medium |
| I wanted to see the nurse practitioner | 3 | 2 | Medium |
| Positive experiences of A&E | |||
| I've used A&E before and was happy... | 84 | 38 | Strong |
| I'm confident in the A&E system | 74 | 32 | Strong |
| Processes and patient's time | |||
| My GP would only refer me here anyway | 49 | 16 | Medium |
| I would have to wait for a GP appointment | 62 | 27 | Medium |
| I think I will be seen quicker here... | 32 | 13 | Medium |
| Convenience of access | |||
| A&E is nearer than any other service | 29 | 11 | Medium |
| It's easier to get to than any other service | 30 | 13 | Medium |
| Perceptions of seriousness | |||
| I wanted to see a specialist | 17 | 4 | Strong |
| I consider the condition an emergency | 24 | 11 | Strong |
| I wanted to see a doctor asap | 58 | 24 | Strong |
| I thought I might need to go into hospital | 14 | 4 | Strong |
| I don't know whether it is broken or not | 77 | 33 | Strong |
| Seeking reassurance | |||
| I need reassuring that ...is not serious | 92 | 33 | Medium |
| I wanted a second opinion | 23 | 5 | Medium |
| Other directed | |||
| …advised by friends/family | 47 | 20 | Medium |
| …advised by others | 61 | 23 | Strong |
| Seeking particular services | |||
| I thought I needed a radiograph | 112 | 48 | Strong |
| I thought I might need a tetanus injection | 14 | 7 | Medium |
| I thought I might need a blood test | 8 | 1 | Medium |
| I thought it needed stitches | 20 | 12 | Medium |