Utilization of an ophthalmic casualty — a critical review

All new patients attending the casualty at WEI over a 4-week period (1–31 October 2004) had information collated on: demographic data, referral source, presentation time, symptom duration, diagnoses, and management. Out of hours was defined as after 1700 till 2100. Out of 2546 patient contacts in the study period, 1597 patients were new and 949 patients had review appointments. Data collection was complete for 1295 (81%) new patients. The mean daily new patient attendance rate (+/− SD) in the eye casualty was 50 +/− 14 during this period. This was lower on the weekend (Saturday: 39 +/− 7, Sunday: 29 +/− 5). Time of presentation, duration of symptoms, and diagnosis are shown in Figures 1 and 2 and Table 1 , respectively. Eye casualty presentation pattern. Duration of presenting symptoms in the eye casualty. Symptoms duration categories: 1—up to 6 h, 2—>6 h up to 12 h, 3—>12 h to 1 day, 4—>1 day and up to 2 days, 5—>2 days to 1 week, and 6—>1 week. Seven hundred and thirty-eight patients (57%) were minor emergencies and discharged at first attendance by nurse practitioners. Four hundred and seventy-nine patients (37%) had further review appointments in casualty, 11 (1%) were admitted for immediate management and 67 (5%) were redirected for management in outpatient, laser, or minor procedures.