Review of police inquiries to an accident and emergency department.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the workload generated by police inquiries to an accident and emergency (A&E) department and the adherence of medical staff to departmental guidelines relating to these inquiries.


METHODS
Prospective analysis of the number, nature, and timing of police inquiries and the information released by medical staff.


METHODS
A&E department of an inner city teaching hospital.


METHODS
Number of personal and telephone requests for information from police; completion of a form of inquiry; record of patient consent for release of information.


RESULTS
A daily average of 8.7 police inquiries were made, but in only 10% of cases was a form of inquiry completed. The patient's consent for release of information to the police was recorded in 4% of cases.


CONCLUSIONS
Police inquiries generate a significant workload for an A&E department, often at clinically busy times. Medical staff need further education to ensure that patient confidentiality is respected while assisting the police with their investigations.
Marshall
R
R
Department of Accident and Emergency Medicine, Glasgow Royal Infirmary, United Kingdom.
Rainer
T
T
D003219:Confidentiality / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D007258:Informed Consent; D016495:Police; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012606:Scotland; D016526:Workload