Same Day Emergency Care (SDEC)

Same day emergency care (SDEC) is a service that provides emergency care to patients without the need for an admission to hospital. SDEC is one of the many ways the NHS is working to provide the right care in the right place for patients, to improve flow in the emergency department.

In SDEC, we treat patients with numerous presenting symptoms including headaches, acute kidney infection, leg swelling (without injury), chest pain, shortness of breath, abdominal pains, anaemia, first seizures, dizziness, abnormal bloods, liver problems, cardiac arrhythmias, gastro-intestinal problems, urology problems, renal colic (kidney stones), infections, deep vein thrombosis, cellulitis and diabetes. We also receive many of the community referrals, mainly from GPs.

Patients in our emergency department will be considered for same day emergency care to ensure that the most people benefit from rapid access in the right area by the right clinician providing excellence of care.

What happens when I come to SDEC?

You will either be referred directly to SDEC for example by your GP, or you will be  streamed to SDEC on your arrival. You will be assessed by a senior nurse and seen by a clinician who will diagnose and treat you with a focus on getting you back home safely on the same day.

Patients who present with minor injuries and illness will be seen within the SDEC/Urgent Treatment Centre by emergency nurse practitioners, advanced care practitioners and general practitioners.

If you arrive by ambulance you will be assessed by a senior emergency department doctor and you may be streamed to the SDEC service for on-going management.

Where possible, we aim to arrange any diagnostic tests within the duration of your visit. We'll also try to give you the results on the same day. Some patients may need to return for ongoing treatment and review.

You may have treatment while in SDEC, or we might recommend that your GP starts treatment. You may be asked to return a day or so later for a follow up check.

Shielded patients  - On presentation to the emergency department patients who are shielding should inform the streaming nurse or administrator so that due precautions can be taken.

What SDEC has to offer

SDEC is covered by joint ED and medical teams that includes Consultants from both teams supported by Junior Doctors, Advanced Care  Practitioners and Physicians Associates. SDEC provides  acute management for patients including self-care and lifestyle advice with the aim of preventing admission to hospital.

Patient information leaflets for some of our conditions

• Baker's Cyst [pdf] 366KB
• Cellulitis [pdf] 277KB
• Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) [pdf] 288KB
• Pulmonary Embolism (PE) [pdf] 323KB