New Specialised Decision Unit (SDU)

Emergency patients are set to benefit from a brand-new purpose built unit at University Hospital of North Midlands aimed to reduce unnecessary admissions to hospital and provide better patient experience.

Royal Stoke University Hospital was awarded more than £4.2 million from a pot of Government money to create the unit which spacious bays to allow for social distancing and large glass doors so patients can be monitored safely reducing the risk of coronavirus outbreaks.

The Specialised Decision Unit (SDU) is linked to the Emergency Department at Royal Stoke University Hospital and patients are able to access quick assessment, diagnosis and treatment following a referral by their GP or a consultant.

The SDU is for patients with neurological, cardiac or trauma and orthopaedic conditions who can be seen, diagnosed and treated before being discharged home within six to eight hours.

Katy Shaw, Matron for the unit, said: “This new unit will significantly help the flow through the emergency department at a time when we are experiencing both winter and Covid-19 pressures and will help our urgent patients avoid long waits ensuring our patients get the very best care.”

Paul Bytheway, UHNM Chief Operating Officer, said: “Due to the increasing number of Coronavirus cases at the start of the pandemic we took a range of measures to ensure that both our hospitals, staff and patients remained safe.

“This included re-organising our Emergency Departments at both Stoke and County Hospital in Stafford to keep patients safe. This funding has enabled us to take the positive steps we had already taken as part of our winter plans further protecting our patients and staff.”