The Surgical Assessment Unit, based at Royal Preston Hospital, part of Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, has celebrated its first birthday.
The Surgical Assessment Unit (SAU) was developed on the 12th June last year with the aim of reducing waiting times and supporting the safety of surgical emergency admissions 24 hours a day 7 days a week at the hospital. Patients with conditions relating to general surgery, urology and vascular are now referred by their GP or urgent care centre directly to the unit.
The unit has seen huge successes in its first year; with waiting times being reduced on average by half and with 47% of patients being discharged home the same day. Following this success, there are plans to expand to four more specialties over the next 12 months.
When asked for their opinion of the unit, one patient said that: “I have been in hospital a few times and never been treated with so much love and care as I have on SAU. They are true angels.”
Lisa Elliott, Divisional Director for Surgery at Lancashire Teaching Hospitals, said: “I have watched this new team on SAU develop and grow from strength to strength over the last 12 months, always ensuring they have the patients at the heart of everything they do. They consistently demonstrate our organisational values and develop new ideas for improving the service they deliver. The team has created an environment that is inclusive of everyone and they have received positive feedback from both patients and staff to support this”
Anneen Carlisle, SAU Manager at Lancashire Teaching Hospitals, said: “Our philosophy is simple - create highly skilled nurses to save lives and to deliver kindness and compassion. We are really proud of the difference that SAU has made to our hospitals and hope to continue this success when we expand into other specialties.”