To help prevent the spread of winter viruses such as Covid-19, influenza and norovirus (winter vomiting bug), and to protect our patients and staff, please do not visit patients in our hospitals if you have: flu-like symptoms (cough, fever, cold); Covid-19 or influenza, or any other infections; diarrhoea and/or vomiting within the last two days.

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What happens at SDEC

The pathway below gives detail on what you can expect to happen in our Same Day Emergency Care (SDEC) unit.

Arrival

You may have been referred to SDEC by the emergency department, your GP, the ambulance service, a hospital ward, outpatient clinic or other healthcare facility.  Please make yourself known to reception when you arrive.

Assessment

Your first assessment will be carried out by a healthcare practitioner. This allows us to determine the best place for you to be seen and some of the tests or investigations you may need.

Investigation

Following assessment we will begin investigation. This could be blood pressure, blood tests, x-rays or other scans. We will begin your investigations as soon as we can. 

Review

Following investigation, a healthcare practitioner will assess you and decide a treatment plan based on their findings.

Further tests or possible senior review

Sometimes, following the initial review, we may need to do some more investigations and your clinician may need advice from a specialist to help to decide the best treatment plan for you.

Going home or admission

We always aim to get you home the same day with a treatment plan in place. Usually admission is not required. However if you need to stay in hospital, we will find a bed for you as soon as possible.