There is an acute medical unit (AMU) at both Epsom and St. Helier hospitals.
Patients are sent to the AMU from accident and emergency (A&E) or can be referred directly by their GP. Patients will be seen by the AMU medical team within two hours and assessed to determine the time that they are likely to stay in hospital.
This could mean:
- no time in hospital - patient receives treatment in the ambulatory care area or is discharged after treatment/observation;
- one to two overnight stays - patient will remain in the AMU short stay unit;
- three overnight stays - patient will bypass the short stay unit and move directly to a specialist inpatient ward on the day of his/her admission.
Ambulatory care
Ambulatory care is part of the AMU at both hospitals. Patients referred to ambulatory care require further medical treatment, but do not need to be admitted as an inpatient.
A consultant will assess the patient's condition, provide the necessary treatment, and then discharge the patient.
