One of the final pieces of the jigsaw is to be put into place in the Addenbrooke’s Emergency Assessment Unit (EAU) on Monday 19 June. The Medical Assessment Unit (which receives patients by referral from GPs) will be closing and moving across to the EAU, creating one ‘front door’ for emergencies.

Patients will be assessed on arrival at the hospital in the Emergency Department within the EAU by an integrated multi-professional team including doctors, nurses and other staff who will make early decisions about treatment and care. This will enable the team to decide whether patients can be discharged, managed within the EAU or need a specialist opinion or possible admission to a main hospital ward.

The EAU has been opening area-by-area since the beginning of April, and the MAU is one of the last departments to move in to its new home. The EAU features medical and surgical short-stay wards, an adult Clinical Decisions Unit and a Children’s Observation Unit, improved access to radiology facilities and rapid pathology testing, plus rapid access clinic facilities for emergency patients.

Sandra Myers, Emergency Care Lead, said: “This is another important and exciting milestone for the EAU, and the move will help us to deliver improved and streamlined emergency care for patients.

“It’s important for people to remember, though, that the Emergency Department is not the only option for their care, and they can really help us by thinking whether hospital is the right place for their problem. Unless they or the relative they are caring for is seriously ill or has been involved in an accident, they should consider using the other emergency services provided in the community for them. These include seeking advice from their pharmacist, going to their GP, using CAMDOC, the out-of-hours GP service, visiting the Minor Injuries Unit in Ely, or calling NHS Direct on 0845 46 47.”

The EAU will be officially opened by Professor Sir George Alberti, National Clinical Director for Emergency Access, on Thursday 29 June. (Invitations to the media to follow.)


ends

Last updated: 16 June 2006