Help Us During the Hot Weather: Waiting in the ED or SDEC
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Due to the current hot weather, we need to minimise the number of people waiting in our Emergency Departments and Same Day Emergency Care areas to help maintain a safe and comfortable environment for patients and staff. If you are accompanying a patient, and are able to do so, please consider waiting in one of our public spaces outside the clinical waiting areas. Thank you for your understanding, support, and cooperation. |
The emergency department is located at St. Peter’s Hospital.
It should only be used if you are seriously ill, or it is an emergency. Please note that there is not an A&E at Ashford Hospital. You can find out more about Ashford Urgent Treatment Centre.
Visiting at Ashford and St Peter’s Hospitals
Please ensure that you visit during the normal ward visiting times. Please note that no more than two people should visit a patient at any given time. Only one visitor per patient is allowed in the emergency department.
Find out more about ward visiting times and exceptions at each hospital.
Update to Infection Prevention and Control Guidance (February 2026)
Stepping Down of Universal Mask Wearing in the Emergency Department (ED)
Following the recent reinstatement of surgical face mask in Emergency Department (ED), we are pleased to confirm that as of Thursday 12 February it will no longer be mandatory for staff, patients, or visitors to wear face masks in the Emergency Department.
Face masks will continue to be available at our main receptions and in clinical areas for anyone who prefers to wear one.
Please continue to respect those who prefer to keep wearing masks.
We ask everyone to follow these basic infection prevention and control measures in our hospitals:
- Do not visit the hospital if you have the following symptoms:
- New onset cough or an ongoing cough that is not improving
- Raised temperature
- Diarrhoea and / or vomiting
- If you do have these symptoms and visiting is essential and cannot be delayed for a few days whilst you recover, e.g. the patient is very unwell / dying, then please telephone the ward concerned and ask to speak to the nurse-in-charge. We are always keen to support visiting in these situations.
- Practice good respiratory hygiene: cover your nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing using a tissue or the inside of your elbow. Dispose of tissues immediately following use and clean your hands.
- Clean your hands on entering and leaving our clinical areas, e.g. wards, using the hand wash basins or alcohol hand sanitiser available inside each patient multi-bed bay and single rooms.
- Visitors are not routinely required to wear disposable gloves and plastic aprons; but should be worn if you are helping the patient with their personal hygiene care.
Thank you for your continued support in keeping our patients, staff and visitors safe.
The Infection Prevention and Control Team
Frequently asked questions about coming to A&E
Click on the options below to find out more:
▶ If the treatment is the same everywhere, does it matter where I go?
Yes, because you will be treated more quickly if you go to the most appropriate place. In A&E, patients with the most urgent and life-threatening conditions will always be seen first. Some services are not provided in A&E. These include repeat prescriptions, emergency dental care, blood tests, travel vaccinations, dressing changes, removal of stitches and ear syringing.
▶ Surely A&E can just ‘squeeze me in’?
Each year, nearly 100,000 patients attend A&E at St. Peter’s Hospital and we estimate that around 18,000 of these could receive more appropriate treatment elsewhere. Each extra person means our doctors and nurses have less time to treat those who really need help.
▶ If I get ill at night should I just go straight to A&E?
No, unless it’s an emergency or you are seriously unwell. A&E can be just as busy in the middle of the night so it is worth trying other services, such as your out-of-hours GP or NHS 111.
▶ When should I bring my child to A&E?
If you think your child is seriously unwell, has had a significant injury or you have been advised by your doctor. Otherwise, you should see your GP for advice and treatment. For minor infections and injuries you can attend an NHS Urgent Treatment Centre (NB: some centres will not treat children under the age of two).
Location
Map of St Peter's Hospital
Getting the Right Care, in the Right Place, at the Right Time
Ashford and St Peter’s Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust want to ensure that the patients in our hospitals are only those who will and are continuing to need our care and treatment. This is because hospitals are best suited for treating those who are very unwell and need urgent and emergency care for serious and life-threatening symptoms.
We have developed this video which details the range of services delivered by our partners across North West Surrey which can be accessed if you need healthcare and wellbeing support or treatment.
Should you need to receive care within a hospital setting, we will make every effort to get you to your usual place of residence as safely and as soon as possible. This video also provides an overview of our discharge process so that our patients and their loved ones can be aware of what to expect when they are admitted into our care.
The winter months are a busy period for the NHS. We hope that this video will be a useful tool for our local community so that they are able to access the right care, in the right place, at the right time, not only throughout winter, but all year round.
