Information for Patients

• SDEC refers to the delivery of care for emergency and acute patients in a same-day or outpatient fashion, who would previously have been admitted to hospital for their investigations
• SDEC is a key part of the NHS Long Term Plan and the surgical team at Huddersfield Royal Infirmary has implemented many of the national recommendations to look after you and to offer an alternative way of treating you without a stay in hospital
• At the Surgical SDEC Unit, we aim to provide a flexible way of investigating, diagnosing and treating patients with a range of symptoms and conditions

• The Surgical SDEC Unit is based in Block 1 on the Lower Ground Floor
• The Unit is open from 7am to 1030pm (Monday – Saturday) and 7am to 730pm on Sundays. The Unit will accept new referrals up to 6pm (Monday – Saturday) and to 3pm on Sundays
• On the Surgical SDEC Unit, we take surgical and urology referrals from GPs and Emergency Departments at Huddersfield Royal Infirmary and Calderdale Royal Hospital. We also see patients who return to us for reviews and check-ups, as well as looking after patients who have been discharged from hospital and need more urgent follow-up
• Our waiting area can accommodate up to 21 patients at a time and we have facilities for organising investigations, performing minor operations and providing care for patients after surgery before their discharge home

By managing patients through the Surgical SDEC Unit, we aim to provide rapid assessment, diagnosis and senior surgical review to then allow early treatment and reduce the need for hospital admission

• When you arrive, you will be checked in at reception and asked to rake a seat in the waiting area
• You will have some initial (baseline) observations taken, which include your pulse, blood pressure, temperature and oxygen levels
• A triage nurse may need to take some blood tests, and you may be asked to provide a urine sample and urinary pregnancy test where appropriate
• After your initial tests, you will then be assessed by the medical team. The doctors will determine if you need any further urgent investigations. Common scans that are requested from the Surgical SDEC Unit include CT scans, ultrasound scans and X-rays. Please note that these scans may not always be on the same day and you may be asked to return the following day if appropriate.
• Once all your results are back, as senior doctor will tell you what your likely diagnosis is and then talk you through a recommended treatment plan

• Please do bear with us while you wait for your results. Our waiting times may vary, and every day and every patient is different. We aim for our patients to be seen and discharged (or admitted where needed) within four to six hours but this can be longer during busy times, and we appreciate your patience
• After blood tests are taken, it can take up to a couple of hours for them to be analysed and the results to be sent back to the Surgical SDEC Unit
• Some patients, such as those returning for planned scans or follow-ups, may have an allocated appointment time and they may be called in before you are
• Our senior doctors are not based on the SDEC Unit and provide an emergency surgical service across several departments in the hospital, including the Emergency Department, in-patient wards and the operating theatres. This can sometimes lead to a delay in your senior review
• Please do not eat or drink anything without checking with the doctor or nursing staff on the Surgical SDEC Unit. Sometimes, treatment or investigations can be delayed if patients have recently eaten
• If you are in pain, or feel that your condition is worsening while you wait, please speak to the nursing staff and they can organise appropriate and rapid pain relief
• If you feel that you do not know what is happening within your care, please ask a member of staff.

• Blood tests
• Ultrasound scans
• CT scans
• MRI scans
• Urine tests

• Once all your results are back, we will decide if you can be treated on an outpatient basis and if you need to return to the SDEC Unit later for further investigations
• Sometimes, we will decide that you do need to be admitted to hospital. This might be because you need in-patient medicines (such as intravenous antibiotics or fluids), an operation, or more tests that can only be performed as an in-patient
• If hospital admission is required, the Nurse in Charge will inform the hospital bed managers to locate a bed. Our ward, the Surgical Assessment Unit, is just next door. In most cases patients are admitted here from the SDEC Unit. Occasionally though, we may transfer patients to another ward during their hospital stay
• Sadly, we don't always have an empty bed straight away, if this is the case, we apologise in advance for any delay.
• We have everything you may need for an overnight stay such as basic toiletries and nightwear. If you are within our department please don't hesitate to ask if you need anything. If the surgical team think you are clinically well enough, you may be able to go home to collect an overnight bag.

• You will be given a full explanation of our working diagnosis and the treatment we recommend, as well as a plan for further tests and investigations if you need them
• You should receive a thorough discharge letter (which will also be sent to your GP) which explains your investigation results
• After your discharge, we normally have provision for a 48-hour period of ‘safety netting’ on the Surgical SDEC Unit. This allows you to have open access back to the department if your symptoms are worsening (or not getting better), or if you need further advice
• If you feel that you do need to come and see us again on the Surgical SDEC unit, please phone us directly on the appropriate contact numbers before arriving; sometimes, we are able to offer advice and guidance over the telephone without you needing to come back to hospital

We love to hear patients’ feedback. We have friends and family cards and QR codes to allow patients to share their experience with us. It’s a great way for us to improve our service based on your experience or read about the positive impact our team has had on your time in the Surgical SDEC Unit.