Work has started on the expansion of the Ambulatory Emergency Care (AEC) unit at Conquest Hospital, which provides same day emergency care for ambulatory patients who don’t require an overnight stay in hospital.
Builders concreting the floor of the new Ambulatory Emergency Care
The unit offers patients rapid access to diagnostic tests and review by hospital consultants in one place. It provides safe care designed around the needs of patients providing them with a better experience and preventing unnecessary hospital admissions. Work on the expanded unit, costing £900k, is expected to be completed in October.
Dr Athanasios Nakos, Consultant Physician said: “Our experience has shown that the principles behind an Ambulatory Emergency Care Unit work. The purpose of the unit is to diagnose and treat patient quickly to get them home when they don’t require a stay in hospital. This expanded unit will help us cope with increasing demand and improve the flow of patients through the Emergency Department.”
The expanded AEC will be much larger than the old unit with eight patient treatment areas and two treatment rooms for assessments and procedures.