What does the "Hospital Ahead with A&E Facilities" sign mean?
The "Hospital Ahead with A&E Facilities is a sign which is displayed close to a hospital which meets these requirements. Usually, when you see this sign, you should start to see the hospital building at one of the next few road turnings. Since hospitals are usually quite large, you should be able to see it before turning down the exact road, unless the area is very built-up. If you don't see the hospital past the road sign, prepare to slow down and carefully navigate until you find it, but without being a hazard on the road.
So what does this hospital sign mean?
As the signs name suggests, it means that there is a hospital with accident and emergency (A&E) facilities ahead, which means that the craziest of injuries can be treated at this hospital. The sign typically has a red or blue background with a big white "H" and if the hospital has the accident and emergency facilities, then the sign will additionally display this below to inform drivers who may need to get to a hospital for a critical reason.
How common is this sign?
Here in the UK, this sign is somewhat rare. For these signs to be common, there would need to be a lot of hospitals, but this isn't the case. Most average-sized cities only have one or two hospitals that serves the whole area, except if the city is very big like London or Manchester. Since there are only one or two hospitals in most cities, this sign will only be seen in these areas, but at every entrance. For example, this sign would most likely be seen by a driver coming from the north, east, west, south and other accessible road entrances.
Without a hospital close by, you will not see this sign unless it's very old or has been put up incorrectly.
What does it mean if there is no hospital at this junction?
If you see the sign, but no hospital is visible then there will probably be a hospital either just up ahead or down a convenient exit slip road. If you are not sure, then slow down and look carefully out of the windows. Also, if you do not see a hospital up ahead at the next exit then this sign may have been placed incorrectly.
However, in the majority of cases, there will be a hospital near, but it may be hidden behind a skyline or bunch of trees or buildings. If you're purposely heading to a hospital, it's advised that you use a SAT-NAV as these often take you directly to the entrance, meaning you won't get lost.
Where are you likely to see the "Hospital Ahead with A&E Facilities" sign?
As previously stated, you will likely see this road sign when travelling towards the hospital from any direction, whether that's from the north, east, west or south. Since many hospitals are built close to motorways for easy access, you will find the sign here too. Other areas you may see the road sign include public roads, tunnels and bridges.
When did this sign first come into action?
This sign was first used in the UK in the early 1960s. It is used everywhere in the UK now to warn drivers of the junctions at which there is a hospital. The first use of an A1 sign was in 1961 and was subsequently used in other locations and countries.
Why is it important to understand this sign?
Knowing when and where to use this sign is important as it can save accidents, and unnecessary waste of money and also avoid delays. There are many different types of signs, but all are there to give drivers some helpful information. Knowing how to read these signs can save you time and therefore money on your journeys.
What not to do after seeing this sign?
If you see the sign, then slow down and expect some sudden maneuvers. Don't panic if you don't see a hospital at the junction. If there is no hospital at the junction, slow down and wait as a surprise may be just around the corner coming up behind you. The cars in front of you may suddenly take a different lane to go to the hospital.
You should also expect an increase in emergency vehicles driving with their sirens on so again, try not to panic and treat the road like normal.
Conclusion
The "Hospital Ahead with A&E Facilities" is a road sign that either has a red or blue background with a big, white "H" letter to display quite clearly what it means. A&E, meaning accident and emergency is reserved for the most damaging of injuries, including high-damaged car crashes, severe burns and more. It basically means that there are qualified experts and suitable technology to help fix you up, something that some hospitals may not have. This sign can be seen from many roads that lead up or around the hospital to alert drivers of its closeby location. Because of the hospital, you can expect to see more emergency vehicles driving around at full speed with their sirens on. Also expect to see heavier traffic since hospitals are always popular buildings.