Oral and maxillofacial surgery in accident and emergency departments

Patients with oral and facial injuries presenting as emergencies to the accident and emergency (A&E) unit at Arrowe Park Hospital have been used to compare the treatment method of direct referral to oral and maxillofacial surgery with that of the routine A&E procedure. A quicker and more effective treatment was administered by direct referral of patients to oral and maxillofacial surgery and an argument for such specialist staff to be based in A&E departments is advanced.