Medical Same Day Emergency Care (SDEC) |
C1
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About | Contact Us | What to expect | Visitors | Going home
About us
The Medical SDEC (Same Day Emergency Care) service combines the previous Ambulatory Care and Direct Assessment Area (DAA) services in one space.
Facilities
Medical SDEC has 42 waiting chairs, with a further 5 recliner treatment chairs and up to 11 trolley spaces. Treatment from the Acute Medical team will focus on early triage and aims to give patients treatment for urgent medical conditions on the same day, thereby avoiding admission to hospital.
We have a drinking water fountain and vending machines are available in nearby departments. Please ask for the staff for directions to the choices for refreshments and food.
Who do we treat?
Medically expected patients, referred from primary care such as GP practices, will be directed to us for assessment and treatment. We work closely with Radiology and other diagnostic services and aim to provide these tests at the same time standards as you would get in the Emergency Department. We encourage patients to remain ambulant and independent whilst they are receiving treatment in Medical SDEC.
The service will also take patients from the urgent treatment centre, and the emergency department, if it is thought that they can be treated on the same day. We also provide an infusion service for the most acutely unwell patients requiring either blood transfusion, iron infusions or electrolyte replacement.
If the care you need does result in needing an admission to hospital, this will be arranged directly from Medical SDEC.
The Care Team
We have a team of doctors and nurses comprising of Acute Medical consultants, Specialty Doctors, Registrars, Medical Nurse Practitioners (MNP), Advanced Clinical Practitioners (ACP), Nurses and Nursing associates.
Contact us
The department can be contacted on:
01225 826337
01225 821745
What to expect
On arrival in Medical SDEC, you will have Rapid Assessment and Treatment (RAT) with an acute medical clinician and a nurse or healthcare support worker will take your observations (blood pressure, heart rate etc). You will then be directed to seating in the SDEC waiting area. We have a small number of trolleys for those who are unwell or require treatment.
Please be aware that the trolley area is mixed gender but benefits from spaces that have walls on each side, as well as curtains, that will help maintain your privacy and dignity.
Your treatment will start as soon as possible, and you may be asked to go to radiology for other scans or tests eg. x-rays. A consultant, or senior doctor working closely with the consultant, will review you and confirm the treatment plan, discussing your care with you and making a plan for any ongoing treatment.
What to bring
While we will try to organise reviews and investigations as quickly as possible, there will be some waiting time between these, so please bring a book/tablet and be prepared to be on the unit for a number of hours. The waiting area has access to plug sockets for charging devices.
Please bring your medication with you.
Personal Belongings
Please keep your valuable items to a minimum, as the hospital is unable to accept responsibility or liability for items that go missing. On arrival to C1 your valuables will be documented and we will encourage you to send home any jewellery or money. Alternatively, valuables can go to the hospital safe until you are discharged (if admitted).
Visitors
Medical SDEC is an assessment area and as such, we don't allow visitors in the same way as the wards. However, we do recognise that some patients need additional support to meet their communication, health or social care needs which might be met with informal or formal carers, friends or family. We value their knowledge and attendance with you to support your needs and encourage you to discuss this with the staff on your arrival, so we are aware.
Going home
We have limited access to patient transport, which can't be booked for specific times. To avoid long delays and waiting, please arrange your own transport to get home whenever possible.
