The emergency department assesses and treats people with major trauma, serious injuries and those in need of emergency treatment. It's open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days of the year.
Our emergency department is just one of the urgent care services available
If you need medical attention but it is not life threatening, there are a number of other local NHS services to choose from.
The emergency department is sometimes referred to as casualty, accident and emergency, ED or A&E.
If you need an ambulance, call 999 - the emergency phone number in England.
You should only go to the emergency department for life-threatening emergencies such as loss of consciousness, a very serious state of confusion, persistent severe chest pain or breathing difficulties.
Southampton residents can use the local services section of Hants and IoW Integrated Care System website to find out when it's appropriate to come to the emergency department and what alternative services are available. You can also get further information about your local NHS primary care services such as GPs and out-of-hours treatment.
Please register at reception as soon as you arrive at the department.
A doctor or nurse will assess your condition and decide on further action - this is called triage. You may have a short wait before you are seen, as this ensures people with the most serious conditions are seen first.
You may then be referred to one of our units; resuscitation, minor injuries, major injuries or ambulatory emergency care. We also have a clinical decisions unit for patients who need more care but don't need to be admitted to hospital. Within these units we are able to access all other hospital departments to offer medical and surgical assessments and urgent treatment.
There is an operational standard in place for emergency services, where 95% of people attending any emergency department should be seen, diagnosed and treated within four hours of arrival.
Our emergency department (ED) is based at Southampton General Hospital, next to the North Wing entrance. Find maps, as well as information on parking and public transport, on our location pages.
Emergency ambulances, fire engines and police vehicles are the only vehicles permitted to use the access road opposite the eye unit.
All other vehicles (cars, taxis and patient transport) should use the drop-off bays outside the North Wing entrance of the hospital. To access the drop-off bay, enter the hospital site via Tremona Road.
The nearest car park to the emergency department is the main multi-storey (orange car park).
For any further information about your local NHS primary care services such as GPs and out-of-hours treatment, please visit the NHS website.