Ambulatory emergency care unit

The ambulatory emergency care (AEC) unit provides rapid assessment of patients with an acute medical illness and same day emergency care, allowing patients who do not need to be admitted to hospital to go home with ongoing clinical follow up as required.

Services provided

Patients are referred to the AEC unit by their GP or by the emergency department. Once they arrive at the unit they are assessed by a nurse who usually performs routine investigations and observations. All patients are then seen by an advanced nurse practitioner or junior doctor, before being seen by a consultant who specialises in acute medicine.

The AEC unit provides same day assessments including blood tests, electrocardiograms (ECGs) and radiology investigations. It can also provide current treatments such as intravenous antibiotics, blood transfusions and iron infusions. Some patients may return the following day for further investigations and treatment.

Contact the team

Ambulatory emergency care unit: 01284 713541

Ambulatory emergency care office: 01284 713785

Location

We are located on the Ground floor of the hospital. (Main entrance, walk as far as you can down main corridor, turn left, walk to end, turn right and the doors to AEC are located on the left-hand side half way down the corridor, next to the chapel.)

Opening hours

8.00am - 8.00pm seven days a week

Patient information

On arrival to AEC please go to the reception desk and inform them that you are attending ambulatory care. You will be welcomed on arrival and given an approximate waiting time by the nurse.