Sometimes clinic side may think is faster to diagnose certain conditions as clinic turnaround time for blood test and diagnostic will take a few days KNN under this kind of condition they will advise patient to go a&e directlee KNN but the thing is a&e may have other opinions and treat the patient as non critical.
Dont think it is turnaround time that is the issue. It is cost.
You go clinic. This test that test all pay individual or under a panel. $$$$ plus X-ray ultrasound? Wah V expensive liao. Or do stitching for laceration T&S take time and how much can clinic charge? Patient will say wah clinic only want to charge $100.
Otherwise cases that should go A&E quite clear cut lah.
A&E is not just about "critical" cases. Some cases need to exclude. Eg appendicitis? cholecystitis? How? Need U/S or CT scan. High clinical suspicion. Or chest pain.....maybe PE? Or leg swelling with possible DVT? Critical? No. But need urgent assessment and conclusive diagnosis if possible.