Home Sweet Home
Ealing Hospital’s Acute Care Unit (EACU) is expanding as the drive for same day treatment gains pace across the National Health Service. The unit sees up to 40 patients per day during the week helping avoid unnecessary hospital admissions.
Patients are assessed, investigated, diagnosed and treated on the same day without being admitted to the hospital overnight. This gives patients the flexibility to recover at home as well as offering better patient experience.
The EAUC treats a number of different medical conditions ranging from anaemia to deep vein thrombosis/pulmonary embolism and cellulitis. They are able to carry out a range of treatments from intravenous antibiotics, blood and iron transfusions and intravenous diuretics.
It also helps ease pressure on the Emergency Department (ED) by treating patients that are suitable to be seen in the unit rather than in ED. The unit takes referrals from GPs, Urgent Care Centres and specialist medical teams. Its larger counterpart at Northwick Park currently sees 70 patients per day.
In its wider role it also supports early discharge from the wards where a doctor will allow a patient home on the proviso that EACU can offer a follow up appointment to check on their recovery.
Martin Kuper, Chief Medical Officer for LNWH, said: "We know that when we help people get treated while maintaining their mobility and independence, they recover faster and their mobility is better.
“The majority of people don’t want to stay in hospital unless they absolutely have to. We know that it is always better to help people to keep their mobility and independence whenever they can, and this helps people to recover more quickly and completely.
“We have a multi-disciplinary team which means they can treat a variety of ailments and conditions in one place including the frail and elderly.”
ACU plans to expand its opening hours later this year offering a seven day service from 8am-8pm.