A MAJOR new service has been launched in Grimsby to help patients be assessed, treated and discharged on the same day.
Ambulatory Emergency Care (AEC) will provide urgent same day treatment for patients so they do not have to be admitted to hospital if there is no requirement.
Patients with certain symptoms who arrive via A&E or are sent by their GP are fast tracked for assessment and appropriate tests by the acute medical team, enabling them to be treated quickly and sent home.
Some of the cases covered by AEC include mild asthma, falls, suspected blood clots, chest pains and skin infections.
The new service, which is being piloted at Grimsby's Diana, Princess of Wales Hospital from Monday until December 20, will be located on the acute medical unit and will be open Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm.
Consultant acute care physician Dr Srujan Ardhalapudi said: "Ambulatory care applies to some conditions that can be treated without the need for an overnight stay in hospital. Patients receive the same medical treatment they would previously have received as an inpatient."
People will be referred to the unit by either their GP or staff in the accident and emergency department at the hospital.
There will be six ambulatory emergency care chairs on the acute medical unit. Once the pilot has been completed, the service will be reviewed with additional patient pathways added to the list.
Dr Ardhalapudi continued: "The unit is all about ensuring medical emergency patients are managed in the most appropriate way.
"They will be seen by a senior clinician and decisions made quickly about their care. They will have fast access to diagnostics ensuring treatment can be started immediately, which means they don't have to stay in hospital overnight."
Patients will have to meet a specific set of criteria before they are referred to the service. The types of patients include low risk pneumonias, cellulitis, deep vein thrombosis (DVT), non cardiac chest pains and people who have suffered first seizures.
Dr Ardhalapudi said it was about ensuring patients were seen and treated in the right place by the right people.
He added: "It is about trying to reduce the number of emergency medical patients admitted to hospital as low risk patients can be managed as outpatients and discharged back to the comfort of their own home.
"Ultimately we aim to provide a fast, responsive service that helps patients get home quickly as we know that people would prefer to be in their own homes than in hospital."
If the patient requires further treatment they will either be asked to attend the unit the following day or given an outpatient appointment. If the clinician decides they require more intensive treatment, they will be admitted to the hospital as an inpatient.
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