The Same Day Emergency Care (SDEC) unit at Rochdale Infirmary is celebrating their 3-year milestone of delivering fast, effective care to the local community.
Since opening, Rochdale SDEC unit has treated more than 24,000 patients, helping people get the care they need quickly whilst returning home the very same day without the need for an overnight hospital stay.
The SDEC unit has become a vital part of Rochdale’s urgent care system, seeing up to 40 patients a day. As well as treating patients on site, the team provides expert advice and support to GPs, specialist nurses, community podiatrists and other local health services.
Chris Underhill, advanced practitioner at Rochdale SDEC, who has been working at the unit since it opened, said: "It has been incredible to see how far we have come in such a short time. Many people still don’t realise the range of services available here, but when they do come in, they really appreciate being listened to properly and having their needs fully assessed.”
The unit is staffed by a multi-disciplinary clinical team of 25 dedicated colleagues, has 11 standard beds and two frailty beds, all of which play a key role in helping to treat patients quickly.
Chris added: "From the start, our aim has been to provide safe, efficient care that keeps people out of hospital beds and back home the same day. We have recently introduced a new virtual ward which allows us to discharge patients early while still giving them the care they need at home.”
As the team celebrates this milestone, they are also looking to develop new ways to care for patients in the community and reduce the need for hospital stays even more. Frailty is a key area of focus, with support being provided to help patients maintain their independence, reduce the risk of future hospital admissions, and improve their overall health, wellbeing, and confidence.
Patients are noticing the difference too with one service user saying: "I was so relieved to be seen quickly and treated without needing to stay overnight. The staff really listened and explained everything clearly. I felt safe, cared for and I was home by tea-time."
A big thank you goes to the entire SDEC team for their dedication, teamwork and for making such a real difference to the lives of thousands of patients in Rochdale.
