The Emergency Department team works closely together to ensure that each member of staff can focus on delivering excellent standards of care in a very busy area of the Trust. The team is led by a Consultant Head of Department and two Clinical Matrons and made up of:
The department currently has 18 Consultants in Emergency Medicine and a number of Resident doctors supporting, in various stages of their training and/or career. Blackpool achieved Teaching Hospital status in 2010 and continues to have medical students from the University of Liverpool and University of Lancaster working under supervision within the department and other areas of the hospital.
The role of nurses within the Emergency Department has expanded in recent years and the department has a variety of nursing and associated staff roles. They include a Matron, Unit Coordinators, Area Coordinators, a Practice Development Sister, Emergency Department Assistants (EDA’s), Assistant Practitioners (AP’s), Advanced Nurse Practitioners (ANP’s), Advanced Clinical Practitioners (ACP’s), and Emergency Nurse Practitioners (ENP’s) who are all able to assess, treat and discharge patients. We also have a dedicated Paediatric nursing team. The team also includes Physician Associates, who are additional clinicians who are able to assess, treat and discharge patients, under the appropriate clinical supervision.
The Emergency Department doctors and nurses make up just part of the multi-disciplinary team working in the department. Other important members of staff include in-patient speciality teams, Patient Flow Assistants (PFA’s) and the PF Teams, FCMS Receptionists, Housekeepers, Volunteers, Pharmacists and Domestics. There is also dedicated support from our allied health professional (AHPs) team inclusive of Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapists, and Radiographers, and the Hospital Discharge Team. Mental Health Liaison Nurses provide 24-hour cover and are able to see, treat and discharge patients presenting with a mental health condition.
The department strives to ensure that all members of Emergency Department staff are able to develop and enhance their knowledge and skills in all aspects of Emergency Care throughout their time working for the department. The Emergency Department has a dedicated clinical training and development nurse who encourages staff to develop the necessary skills they need to deal with patients of any age and all illnesses and injuries they may encounter while working for the department.
All new members of staff take part in a comprehensive induction programme and all staff are encouraged to undertake a professional development programme. A management development programme for senior nurses is also available. Other training and development opportunities include:
- Joint teaching sessions with medical staff
- Mental health training
- A Nurse Practitioner development programme
- Weekly staff training sessions
- Opportunities for training in Business Administration and Management skills
