Table 2 General and specific reasons for attendance at the ED from the patient perspective (n = 174) ^a

The ED is the best place for my problem

70%

63%

79%

77%

0.186

I’m unaware of other services to treat me for this problem

33%

37%

28%

35%

0.615

My family told me to come to the ED

13%

15%

14%

11%

0.706

I don’t know what other services are open at this time

9%

9%

4%

14%

0.160

It is easy for me to get to the ED

4%

2%

4%

6%

0.596

I attended the ED before and I was happy with it

4%

0%

4%

8%

0.146

I think I will be seen quicker here than at any other service

3%

4%

2%

3%

0.740

I usually come to ED with a medical problem

2%

0%

2%

3%

0.502

I could not afford to go anywhere else

1%

0%

2%

0%

0.366

With COVID-19 restrictions the ED is where I needed to attend ^b

–

–

–

18%

–

Specific Reasons for ED Attendance

TOTAL

DEC

FEB

JUL

P value

I consider this condition to be an emergency

47%

45%

54%

43%

0.354

I thought I needed an x-ray or scan

24%

23%

33%

17%

0.089

I thought I might need to go into hospital

23%

28%

26%

17%

0.275

I need reassurance that my illness/injury is not serious

21%

23%

33%

9%

≤0.005

I came to the ED to get a second opinion

14%

15%

25%

3%

≤0.005

I wanted to see a specialist

12%

17%

18%

3%

≤0.05

I wanted to see a doctor or a nurse as soon as possible

12%

13%

19%

6%

0.078

I thought I needed the wound treated

5%

4%

7%

5%

0.767

I thought I might need a blood test

5%

4%

9%

3%

0.333

I thought I might need a tetanus injection

1%

2%

0%

2%

0.575

I am on a waiting list and I thought this would speed it up ^b

1%

2%

0%

0%

0.265

I could not attend my normal service due to COVID-19 restrictions

–

–

–

3%

–

Other Reason* E.g. GP Referral

29%

23%

19%

42%

≤0.05