This title is directed primarily towards health care professionals outside of the United States. It guides the decision-making process using a system of assessment that identifies those patients who need immediate life saving treatment and those who need hospital care. The book also concentrates on the assessment and management of the patients who will be managed in the community. It connects emergency care with the community and secondary care and places it firmly in the context of patient care pathways.

Chapter 1 Introduction, summary, the system of care, Jim Wardrope, Colville Laird and Peter DriscollChapter 2 The system of assessment and care of the primary survey positive patient, Jim Wardrope and Roderick MacKenzieChapter 3 Chest pain, Colville Laird, Peter Driscoll and Jim WardropeChapter 4 Shortness of Breath, Malcolm Woollard and Ian GreavesChapter 5 The ill child- Assessment and identification of primary survey positive children, Malcolm Woollard and Fiona JewkesChapter 6 Childhood illness- Assessment and management of primary survey negative children, Fiona Jewkes and Malcolm WoollardChapter 7 Nausea, vomiting and fever, John Hall and Peter DriscollChapter 8 Problems in older people, Peter Lawson and Chris RichmondChapter 9 Abdominal Pain, Abdominal pain in women, complications of pregnancy and labour, James Gray, Jim Wardrope and Diana Jane FothergillChapter 10 Management of Neurological Emergencies, Carole Gavin and James GrayChapter 11 ENT Problems, S. Carter and Colville LairdChapter 12 Management Of Allergy, Rashes And Itching, Mike Langlands and Colville LairdChapter 13 The Assessment And Care Of Musculo- Skeletal Problems, Chris Fitzsimmons and Jim WardropeChapter 14 Overdose and Self Harm, Jim Wardrope and Peter DriscollChapter 15 Mental illness Assessment, management of depression and self harm. The mental health act, Rosie Doy, Derek Burroughs and John ScottChapter 16 Assessing and managing psychosis, drug misuse and violence and aggression, Rosie Doy, Elizabeth Janes Blowers and Emma Sutton