A Day in A&E

Step into the fast-paced world of emergency medicine. Working in small teams, students will assess patients, interpret clinical findings, prioritise treatment, and make critical decisions as an unfolding series of medical emergencies tests their judgement.

Designed and delivered by medics with backgrounds at the University of Oxford, this interactive intensive offers a practical insight into clinical reasoning, patient assessment, and the realities of working in A&E.

What Students Gain

Clinical reasoning: assess symptoms, interpret clinical information, and develop differential diagnoses as patient cases unfold

Patient assessment & triage: evaluate competing priorities, recognise clinical red flags, and determine which patients require urgent attention

Decision-making under pressure: respond to changing circumstances, weigh up available evidence, and justify decisions when the stakes are high

Communication & teamwork: collaborate with peers, present clinical assessments, and defend decisions as part of a medical team

Medical insight: explore the realities of emergency medicine, the responsibilities of clinicians, and the challenges of delivering care in a fast-moving environment

Programme Overview

Across a series of interconnected clinical cases, students will experience the pressures of a demanding A&E shift. As new symptoms, test results, and unexpected complications emerge, teams must reassess their patients, adapt their approach, and decide what to do next.

From initial triage to complex clinical decisions, students will discover how medical knowledge, sound judgement, and effective teamwork come together in emergency care.

The day concludes with a clinical debrief, drawing out key lessons from the cases and exploring the thinking behind the decisions made.