Acute Medicine

We have acute medicine units (AMU) at both Sandwell and City Hospital sites and it is where we care for seriously unwell patients in the first 72 hours of their stay.

On those wards, our doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals look after a range of patients from the very sick, to those who need diagnostics and discharge to Same Day Emergency Care and admission avoidance.


Services

Acute Medical Units

There are monitored areas for our sickest patients who need closer observation and higher levels of medical and nursing care on both our wards.

Patients who are admitted to City or Sandwell Hospitals with medical problems are initially cared for in our Acute Medical Units. We are able to treat and discharge the majority of patients with the remainder being transferred to our specialist and general medical wards for ongoing care. We work closely with other healthcare professionals who provide an in reach services for our AMU patients.

Same Day Emergency Care (SDEC)

Same Day Emergency Care (SDEC) Units are based at both City and Sandwell Hospitals and looks to treat and discharge patients sooner. Patients can be referred to SDEC from our A&E departments, Acute Medical Units and GP practices.

SDEC is staffed by a dedicated team of consultants, doctors, advanced nurse practitioners, staff nurses and healthcare assistants and enables patients to be seen more quickly. It will provide rapid assessment, treatment and diagnostic testing and for many patients this can avoid an admission to hospital and allows people to recover in their own home where this is appropriate. SDEC is a day treatment service so patients may be required to return if further tests or assessments are required.

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