Publish date: 8 December 2023
We recently marked one year since the launch of our Frailty Same Day Emergency Care (SDEC) Unit.
The unit provides comprehensive same-day assessment and care in a bespoke setting for acutely unwell patients aged 65 and over, who present with acute frailty syndromes (for example falls, delirium, immobility).
Older patients attending the Emergency Department are now routinely screened daily for clinical frailty in line with national best practice. Those who meet key clinical criteria are proactively selected by the team and quickly transferred for an evidence based comprehensive multidisciplinary assessment, treatment.
Where appropriate, same day community discharge is achieved to avoid the need for unnecessary hospital admission.
The unit has been a real success story. Over the last year, it has helped half the patients they have seen avoid admission.
In October, 336 patients were initially assessed in the Emergency Department, of whom 77 were suitable for comprehensive assessment on the Frailty SDEC, with 33 (43%) of these avoiding planned or expected acute admission.
Over the month, the unit saved the equivalent of 297 hospital bed days while delivering safe and effective emergency care to some of our most vulnerable patients.
Early analysis of the data also suggests that even when patients are admitted from the unit, following a comprehensive geriatric assessment and detailed care plan, their average length of hospital stay has begun to drop dramatically, from seven to two days.
Feedback from patients, families and carers about the unit has also been overwhelmingly positive.