The aim. Describing the time since the emergency situation occurred to the commencement of advanced medical procedures in Emergency Department according to “golden hour” idea. Analysing of factors infl uencing the time of starting emergency treatment in Słupsk County Hospital.

Materials and methods. Analysis of medical documentation of Słupsk Ambulance Service; especially time intervals between transporting patients to another part of the nearest hospital, next hospitals and the commencement of emergency treatment.

Results. Time of accessing patients in 2006 in agglomerations: medium 6 min., third quarter 9 min., outside agglomerations: medium 20 min., third quarter 25 min. Medical procedures in emergency place, medical transport to the hospital in agglomerations – about 29 min, outside agglomerations – 52 min. Waiting for a physician in hospital without Emergency Department about 13 min. Transport between division inside the hospital: medium 13-20 min. Starting of emergency treatment of patient transported in town 55-62 min. out of town: 78-85 min.

Conclusions. The shortest time of ambulance delivery to patients was reported in agglomerations and outside agglomerations. Currently the delay in emergency treatment in Słupsk hospital is the effect of: not established Emergency Department, defi cit of emergency physicians “on call” or “on duty”, hospital premises in several buildings and some patients need to be transported from one emergency room to another in the same hospital.

Słowa kluczowe: poszkodowany, złota godzina, Szpitalny Oddział Ratunkowy, accident victim, golden hour, Emergency Department