Posted: 16 December 2020

Same day emergency care service

The Trust has launched a same day emergency care service (SDEC). This new service, which opened Monday 23 November, allows frail or elderly patients to progress straight to a specialist day unit following a GP referral or triage in the emergency department (A&E) reception and so avoid having to wait to be seen in the emergency department.

Patients who arrive in the emergency department with relevant conditions can be rapidly assessed, diagnosed and treated without being admitted to a ward, and if clinically safe to do so, will go home the same day their care is provided.

Initially, SDEC will operate from 8am to 8pm, from Monday to Friday. Patients who meet the appropriate criteria will be transferred to the unit where they will receive a comprehensive assessment from a multidisciplinary team of doctors, nurses and therapists.

Patients in the unit will not need to wait any longer than 1 hour for their assessment and should be discharged within a maximum of 6 hours from their arrival. Hot drinks will be served at regular intervals throughout the day and sandwiches will be made available for any patients who have been within the service for at least 4 hours.

The unit will help to provide frail and elderly patients with the urgent care they require without the need to admit them to a hospital ward. They can be assessed, treated and discharged on the same day and be supported to continue their treatment and care from the comfort of their homes.

Dan Gibbs, Chief Operating Officer said: “We hope that the new unit will provide specialist assessment and care to help treat patients – especially those who may be frail or elderly – swiftly and appropriately without the need for a hospital admission. This should help improve the experience of patients needing urgent care and will also help lift the burden of care from our emergency department colleagues who face growing challenges throughout the winter months.”