New emergency unit offers patients rapid treatment and assessment

Patients across East Cheshire who are referred for urgent treatment to Macclesfield Hospital can now experience an improved care pathway at the beginning of their journey at the Same Day Emergency Care unit (SDEC).

The unit, which officially opens this week, is a new facility for the provision of same day care for emergency patients who might otherwise have been admitted to hospital.

The unit is situated next to the emergency department and boasts six consultation rooms and a spacious waiting area which will meet the growing need of our patients.

The sophisticated SDEC triaging model means patients who are diagnosed and referred directly by their GP, NHS 111, A&E, or ambulance services will be fast tracked to the right specialist at the start of their visit to hospital.

Dr John Hunter, medical director at East Cheshire NHS Trust said: "The new SDEC will reduce hospital admissions and in turn improve the patient experience and help the trust manage patient flow.

Patients will be fast tracked to the right specialist at the new emergency care unit

“Patients who are referred to the SDEC 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.”

East Cheshire NHS Trust chief executive John Wilbraham, said: “This £2.2 million investment is a really positive development for the hospital and the patients that we care for.

"The model which allows staff to assess before admission rather than admit then assess, ensures patients spend less time waiting in hospital for the right treatment to be decided for them, therefore reducing the length of their hospital stay.

"The new unit will also help with infection control by easing pressures in our emergency department at a time when capacity is reduced due to changes implemented to minimise Covid-19 transmission. "