Our Emergency department (also known as Accident and Emergency or A&E) is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year for the treatment of serious and potentially life threatening conditions.
Children under 16 are seen in our Children’s Emergency department.
Find us using What3Words: hosts.gold.dining
Our Emergency department is located on level 1 of the main Princess Michael of Kent (PMOK) building.
To access from the multi-storey car park, exit on level 2 and continue up the hill. Turn left when you reach the road, following the signs to Emergency department (A&E), and continue for 100 metres. The entrance will be on your right, with ‘Accident and Emergency Entrance’ over it in large letters. Follow the red signs and red arrows on the floor to reach the reception .
You can drop off directly in front of the Emergency department entrance.
Enter the site using the Vicarage Road entrance and continue past the main hospital entrance. Turn right at the T junction with signposts towards the Emergency department. The entrance is on the right just before the next bend in the road. There are a small number of spaces to pull into and a small car park if you continue around the bend.
Emergency departments are usually very busy. If it’s not an emergency, there may be more suitable and quicker ways of getting help.
Our Emergency department is busiest after 4pm. If you’re able to attend before then you may be seen quicker.
Visit NHS111 online or call 111 - You will be asked multiple questions about the care you need and, based on your answers, you'll be recommended the best course of action.
We have Urgent Treatment Centres (UTCs) at Watford General Hospital (open 8am-2am, every day) and Hemel Hempstead Hospital (open 8am-10pm, every day).
There is also an Integrated Urgent Care Hub at St Albans City Hospital which is open for appointments only. Appointments are made through NHS111 or GPs.
Pharmacists are qualified healthcare professionals who can offer clinical advice and over-the-counter medicines for a range of minor illnesses. They will let you know if you need to visit a doctor.
When you arrive at reception, you’ll be asked for your details and contact information and numerous questions about what you need help with. Let us know if you have been referred by your GP.
You’ll then be asked to wait or directed to another department.
Please note, our team prioritise the order people are seen in, depending on how unwell they are or the nature of their injury. This means that someone who arrives after you may be seen and treated more quickly.
It is common to have to wait multiple hours to be seen and treated.
We have a zero-tolerance policy on violence and will not permit any abuse of our staff or other patients.
All adult patients who attend our hospitals will receive an invitation to register on our Patient Portal via text message.
Our Patient Portal is a completely secure way to view and manage your own hospital health information online, including viewing and changing appointments and accessing clinical documents and test results.
Please note, patients who attend the Emergency department between 10pm and 6am will receive their SMS registration invite after 6am.
There are multiple vending machines with the Emergency department as well as a phone charging station and an Infopoint station which allows free calls to taxi companies.
Find more information about food and drink at Watford General Hospital.