Welcome to Same Day Emergency Care (SDEC)

What is Same Day Emergency Care (SDEC)?

The Same Day Emergency Care Unit provides urgent hospital care in one day. This aims to avoid you needing to stay overnight. We are a team of advanced practitioners, doctors, consultants, specialist nurses, physician associates, and GPs.

How to find us

We are in the pink zone, on level 1 of the Brunel building, at Gate 36. The nearest car park is next to the Emergency Department, gate 35. Spaces are limited. Further car parking is available in the main visitors’ car park.

A move maker (volunteers in green or pink shirts) can help direct you from the main entrance or car park to the SDEC unit.

What happens when you arrive?

When you arrive, please go to the SDEC reception desk. The receptionist will be expecting you and will show you to the waiting area.

After you arrive, the nurse taking care of you will record a set of observations. This may be your pulse rate, blood pressure, oxygen levels, and temperature. You may also have some blood tests, heart tracing (ECG), or a urine sample.

What happens next?

Next, you will see one of our clinicians. This can be an advanced practitioner, a hospital doctor, a GP, a specialist nurse, or physician associate. They will talk to you about your condition, perform a physical examination, and decide if you need any further tests (like an X-ray, CT scan, or ultrasound).

Once we have the results of all your tests, a clinician will discuss your care plan with you. You may start treatment if needed. If you have come from the Emergency Department (ED) or another department, you may have already started treatment which can be continued.

We will keep you informed of your results and care plan throughout the day.

Waiting

You may need to wait in between assessments and for test results. You can wait in our waiting area, or if you prefer you can visit one of our café areas on level 1.

Please make sure we have your mobile phone number so we can contact you when your results are available.

If you are more unwell, we will ask you to stay in the unit so we can observe you.

When will I go home

You will likely spend most of the day with us - usually 4-8 hours, but less if you have been here before.

When you go home, we will give you any advice you need. We will also send a letter electronically to your GP, providing information about the problem and the care and treatment you have received. If you need any medication, we will either provide you with the medication or a prescription.

Occasionally you may be asked to return another day for further investigations, treatment, or review. You will be given an appointment for this.

If your treatment or investigations are not completed during our opening times, we may move you to a different area to wait for your results.

Most people (80%) go home on the same day. If your clinician thinks you should stay overnight, they will discuss this with you, and you will be moved to a bed within the hospital.

Food and drink

There is cold water available in the waiting room. If the jugs are empty please ask at reception. There is also a vending machine in the reception area.

Sandwiches are available throughout the day. Please ask if you are hungry.

Some scans require you to have nothing to eat or drink. The nursing staff will tell you if this is the case.

As hot drinks and food are limited, feel free to visit the cafes in the main atrium or bring in your own food.

Visitors

The unit is a busy area with limited waiting space, so we ask that you have only 1 visitor to accompany you. In busy times we may ask visitors to wait in the main atrium to allow space for patients. We can contact visitors to make sure they are there during the assessment process if you wish.

Chaperone

Please ask if you wish to have a chaperone during consultations. For intimate examinations one will be provided.