title: 'Inappropriate attender' in A&E.
abstract: With the current emphasis on reducing patient waiting times, accident and emergency nurses may be tempted to close the doors on what they consider to be 'inappropriate attenders'. The author warns that public perceptions of A&E are often at odds with the nurses view, and that all patients should have access to accident and emergency services. This article takes a critical look at triage since its inception as a means of assessing wounded soldiers during the first world war. He explores patient assessment in accident and emergency departments and nurses' attitudes towards the 'inappropriate attender', highlighting the need for caution when dealing with enquiries from the general public.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Crouch
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D016529:Emergency Nursing / Q000592:standards*; D004739:England; D006300:Health Services Misuse / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007587:Job Description; D015403:Nursing Evaluation Research; D014218:Triage / Q000592:standards*