Being hailed as a game changer, fewer people should now need to be admitted to the Royal Bournemouth Hospital as same day emergency care (SDEC) and the acute medical unit (AMU) are now located together.

Patients are SDEC patients until proven otherwise when they first come into AMU. They will undergo a rapid assessment by a senior member of the acute medical team in the new assessment area and then either be admitted into AMU or through to SDEC. It’s anticipated this should result in more patients being treated in SDEC, with an ethos of ‘admission is the exception’.

The departments themselves are linked through a bay on AMU into the SDEC area, and the new trolley/chair assessment area – for up to five patients – allows greater flexibility in the management of the acute medical patients.

The new pathway will result in less pressure and requirement of inpatient beds, and will mean patients are assessed earlier in their journey, allowing them to be treated and cared for in the most appropriate environment.

Earlier assessment also means initial diagnostics can be arranged sooner which will contribute to a reduced length of stay, helping with bed availability in the hospital. Waits in the Emergency Department and wait times for GP patients will also be reduced.

Mel Ivory, matron for the acute and ambulatory directorate, said: “This is the biggest change in acute medicine at the RBH site in the last 10 years and will have a really positive impact on patients and hopefully the flow of patients coming in. We are really excited to see the changes take effect.

“A huge thank you to everyone involved in the project who has helped build our vision and make it a reality. The input from staff has been incredible and I know their openness to new ways of working will make this new pathway a success.”