Acute Medical Unit
About this service
Our Acute Medical Unit is the name for the ward areas where patients needing acute (urgent) medical care are admitted for assessment and treatment at Warrington Hospital.
The unit sees a range of services co-located to improve the process for patients who are admitted to hospital in an emergency. It meets national guidance from the Royal College of Physicians around co-location of facilities and seeing the ‘right person in the right setting – first time’.
In Warrington there are a greater than average number of admissions to hospital amongst over 65s, greater ill health amongst that group compared to national averages and projected future increases in dementia and various chronic diseases. The trust has worked to redesign its service to meet these needs.
Our facilities
There is a particular emphasis on elderly care that sees four areas working together in a unit in the Appleton Wing of the hospital:
- GP Assessment Area- With a waiting area, recliner chairs and assessment cubicles for patients referred to hospital urgently by their GP. The hospital’s aim is to provide nurse assessment within 30 minutes and medical assessment within an hour so that treatment can begin quickly
- Acute Medical Assessment Area- The area previously known as Ward A1 has 29 bed spaces for all medical patients admitted from Accident & Emergency and those GP patients who require further assessment. The aim is for a maximum 8 hour stay before discharge to an urgent access clinic, being referred back to the GP or it being decided that the patient needs to stay in hospital
- Acute Medical Admissions Area- The area formerly known as Ward A2 has 28 beds for admitted patients with an intended length of stay in hospital of 24-72 hours. This area has dedicated consultants working seven days a week
- Older Person’s Assessment and Liaison (OPAL) Area– The area formerly known as Ward A3 has 34 bed spaces for older patients with complex health and social care needs. This area will have a strong team approach with therapy and social care input to ensure patients get the right package of care quickly to help get them back home or to their place of residence.
Who's in the team?
The wards in the acute medical unit are staffed by a team of doctors, nurses and support staff. There is also dedicated therapy and pharmacy input on the wards.
Other Information & Downloads
The Acute Medical Unit is backed by urgent access clinics five days a week. This is where patients who do not need admission to hospital, but do require further checks from a consultant, can come back to an outpatient clinic the next day for review. There is also increased pharmacy support to ensure that there are no delays in issuing prescriptions so patients can leave hospital.
Referral information
Patients are referred to the unit directly from GPs and through Accident and Emergency.
Main Contact Information
Appleton Wing
1st Floor
Warrington Hospital
Warrington
WA5 1QG
Telephone1:
01925 635911 (switchboard)