Same Day Emergency Care units project update

Work to improve the Same Day Emergency Care units (SDEC), which will help reduce waiting times and corridor care at the William Harvey Hospital in Ashford and the QEQM Hospital in Margate, is entering its final phase.

NHS England business case funding of £28.95m has been approved for the two sites which will benefit both patients and the healthcare system.

The SDEC improvement work is just one part of a major plan to tackle corridor care and improve the patient flow through hospitals, along with working with partners and strengthening the support to wards in discharging patients who no longer need to be in an acute hospital to free up more beds.

The SDEC units differ from Urgent Treatment Centres (that treat patients with minor injuries and illnesses), by allowing acute specialists to assess, diagnose and treat patients on the same day of arrival who would otherwise have been admitted to hospital. Under this care model, patients attending hospital with certain 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.

Des Holden, acting Chief Executive said: “Same day emergency care is one of the many ways our trust and the wider NHS system is working to provide the right care, in the right place, at the right time for patients.

“Addressing increased demand and capacity issues in the emergency departments are part of our longer-term plan to improve patient care; and this includes the hospitals’ SDECs ‘front door’ service. NHSE has set us a target to implement these changes to bring benefits to patients and staff as quickly as possible.”

Work at both sites got underway last Autumn led by 2Gether Support Solutions, and the Trust aims to complete the building work by this summer. Staff have worked hard to keep services operating during a number of moves as part of the complex project, and they have been thanked for their support.

Creating a dedicated Acute Assessment Unit (AAU) and SDEC at the William Harvey Hospital (WHH) will increase capacity and flow from the Emergency Department, and support the establishment of a Clinical Decision Unit and Observation bay, to improve how quickly care is provided. This will result in less overcrowding and corridor care in the emergency department at WHH. The funding also covers a dedicated ‘Safe Haven’ area, operating 24 hours a day to offer mental health support for acute patients and help them to get appropriate treatment.

Creation of a "Same Day Care Village" at the QEQM Hospital will increase capacity within the emergency department.

By increasing the number of patients being seen under four hours (type 1), this will improve performance and lead to better quality care and the experience for patients.

Des Holden added: “The SDEC project has improvement of patient outcomes and delivery of quality care at its heart – reducing waiting times and corridor care.

“We are ambitious for the future of our services and the care we provide for our patients. All our staff are involved in helping to deliver efficient and sustainable services, and find different ways of working that deliver national standards and improve the experience for local patients and families.”