Assess common ED presentations
Develop a safe approach to the symptoms and problems you will meet in the Emergency Department.
Choose a presentation or skill
35 topics · Page 3 of 3
Lower gastrointestinal bleeding
Assess the significance of rectal bleeding and discuss the likely source and next steps.
1 MLA revision resource
Learn on placement: Lower gastrointestinal bleedingMajor trauma
Follow a prioritised assessment of an injured patient and understand how the trauma team works.
1 MLA revision resource
Learn on placement: Major traumaPoisoning
Establish the exposure, assess the patient and use current poisons advice with a clinician.
2 student lessons · 1 MLA revision resource
Learn on placement: PoisoningReduced consciousness
Assess a patient with reduced consciousness without assuming the cause from their first appearance.
1 student lesson · 2 MLA revision resources
Learn on placement: Reduced consciousnessSelf-harm and overdose
Address physical harm and distress together, with respectful assessment and early specialist support.
1 student lesson · 2 MLA revision resources
Learn on placement: Self-harm and overdoseSepsis
Recognise possible infection with deterioration and follow the appropriate age- and pregnancy-specific pathway.
1 student lesson · 1 MLA revision resource
Learn on placement: SepsisShock
Recognise impaired perfusion and compare the possible causes before discussing treatment.
1 student lesson · 1 MLA revision resource
Learn on placement: ShockStridor and upper-airway obstruction
Recognise a threatened airway and summon experienced help promptly.
1 learning resource
Learn on placement: Stridor and upper-airway obstructionUpper gastrointestinal bleeding
Assess haematemesis or melaena and understand the priorities before specialist treatment.
1 student lesson · 2 MLA revision resources
Learn on placement: Upper gastrointestinal bleedingUrine testing
Use urine tests to answer a clinical question, with attention to the patient group and limitations.
1 MLA revision resource
Learn on placement: Urine testingWounds and soft-tissue injury
Assess the wound and the structures beneath it before discussing closure.
1 MLA revision resource
Learn on placement: Wounds and soft-tissue injuryAbout this resource and its review
A St Emlyn’s guide to learning Emergency Medicine during undergraduate placements. It is not an official medical-school or GMC curriculum. Your medical school’s curriculum and assessment requirements take precedence.
National foundations: GMC Outcomes for Graduates, the practical-skills supplement and the MLA content map applying from September 2026.
Framework checked: 8 October 2026. This is a source check, not clinical sign-off.
Clinical learning outcomes: awaiting named clinical review.
The four learning routes are St Emlyn’s groupings. The six interconnected MLA domains remain part of the official content map.