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 1 of 3
Chest pain
Assess chest pain, consider immediately dangerous causes and discuss a safe investigation plan.
3 student lessons · 1 practice card · 1 MLA revision resource
Learn on placement: Chest painBreathlessness
Assess severity first, then use history and examination to guide the differential.
1 student lesson · 1 practice card · 2 MLA revision resources
Learn on placement: BreathlessnessAbdominal pain
Assess abdominal pain, keep dangerous alternatives in mind and discuss a safe next step.
1 practice card · 2 MLA revision resources
Learn on placement: Abdominal painHeadache
Describe the pattern of headache and look for features needing urgent investigation.
1 student lesson · 2 MLA revision resources
Learn on placement: HeadacheSyncope and blackouts
Use the event history and ECG to distinguish a likely faint from a more concerning collapse.
1 student lesson · 1 practice card · 1 MLA revision resource
Learn on placement: Syncope and blackoutsBack pain
Assess back pain and identify features that need urgent investigation or specialist advice.
1 student lesson · 2 practice cards · 1 MLA revision resource
Learn on placement: Back painA child with fever
Assess the child, not just the temperature, and listen to the parent or carer’s concern.
1 MLA revision resource
Learn on placement: A child with feverConfusion
Identify an acute change in cognition or behaviour and look for its cause.
2 MLA revision resources
Learn on placement: ConfusionVomiting
Assess severity and possible causes before assuming uncomplicated gastroenteritis.
1 practice card · 1 MLA revision resource
Learn on placement: VomitingWeakness
Describe the pattern and timing of weakness and recognise time-critical neurological illness.
2 practice cards · 1 MLA revision resource
Learn on placement: WeaknessPalpitations
Describe the rhythm-related symptoms and identify features needing urgent assessment.
1 MLA revision resource
Learn on placement: PalpitationsHead injury
Assess the injury, recognise deterioration and use the appropriate investigation pathway with supervision.
1 learning resource
Learn on placement: Head 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.