Arrival & Assessment at AMU

On arrival to the Acute Medical Unit (AMU) nearly all patients will undergo a triage assessment in Gate 31b while some patients will go straight to Gate 31a (Ambulatory Emergency Care) which is a seated assessment area.

After triage by an Acute Medicine nurse you will have a primary assessment by a doctor. This assessment ensures that the sickest patients have investigations such as a chest x-ray and treatment can be started as soon as possible. Many of these very unwell patients will be moved to the Enhanced Care Area for closer monitoring and secondary assessment on Gate 31a. It is here that these patients will be reviewed by a medical Consultant.

For the majority of patients a more detailed secondary assessment will take place in one of the Assessment beds on Gate 31b. This will involve detailing the patient story, arranging investigations and starting treatment if needed. Some patients will be discharged out of hospital at this point with a detailed plan for follow-up and outpatient investigations if required.

It is here many patients will see a medical Consultant. The medical Consultant will decide if you need to stay in hospital or if you can be discharged out of hospital.

If you are discharged out of hospital further investigations may be needed and you may be referred to another Specialist or back to the care of your General Practitioner (GP).

If you need to stay in hospital you will either be admitted to a Specialist bed or moved to Gate 31a Short Stay. It is anticipated that most patients who require a short hospital stay of a few days will be discharged from Gate 31a.