Syncope management in the UK and Republic of Ireland

• Published in: Emergency medicine journal : EMJ Vol. 26; no. 5; pp. 331 - 333
• Main Authors: Stockley, C J, Bonney, M E, Gray, A J, Reed, M J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and the British Association for Accident & Emergency Medicine 01.05.2009; BMJ Publishing Group LTD
• Subjects: Decision making; Emergency medical care; Emergency Service, Hospital - organization & administration; Family physicians; Health Care Surveys; Health Services Research - methods; Humans; Ireland; Patients; Physicians; Practice Guidelines as Topic; Questionnaires; Syncope - therapy; United Kingdom; United Kingdom > UK; Ireland
• ISSN: 1472-0205; 1472-0213
• DOI: 10.1136/emj.2008.062281

Aims:To establish the current practice of emergency department (ED) management of syncope in the UK and Republic of Ireland.Methods:A survey of “major” or “intermediate” size ED in the UK and Republic of Ireland conducted by postal and telephone questionnaire.Results:177 (70%) ED responded. 32 (18%) ED have syncope guidelines, which are based on a range of existing guidelines. 97 ED (55%) have an observation ward or clinical decision unit and 48 (49%) of these admit syncope patients to these units. 32 ED (18%) have access to a specialist syncope outpatient clinic. This is most likely to be run by general practitioner specialists (43%) or general physicians (24%). 81% of ED felt that improved research-based guidelines would be useful when managing syncope patients.Conclusion:The ED management of syncope patients in the UK and Republic of Ireland is varied. Only 18% of ED have specific guidelines for managing this difficult condition and only 18% have access to a specialist syncope clinic. A robust consensus UK syncope guideline is clearly required.