Information for the public

Arriving on the ward or in the emergency department

Arriving on the ward or in the emergency department

When you first arrive on the ward – either as a new patient or from a critical care area such as the intensive care unit – a healthcare professional should:

  • measure your pulse, blood pressure and temperature, how fast you are breathing, and the amount of oxygen in your blood

  • look at how alert you are and whether you are aware of what is going on around you.

You should also have these 'vital signs' measured if you are in the emergency department and it has been decided you need to stay in hospital.

The staff should write a plan for which of your vital signs should be monitored and how often. The plan should take into account:

  • why you are in hospital

  • any other illnesses or health problems you have

  • what you have agreed about your treatment.