New £6m urgent care unit opens at hospital

Julian Parfitt, surrounded by staff, cut the ribbon to officially open the new unit

A new £6m urgent care unit has opened at a West Sussex hospital, which will offer patients faster treatment.

The Same Day Emergency Care Unit (SDEC) was officially opened at St Richard's Hospital in Chichester on Friday.

It will allow tests to be carried out more quickly, speeding up diagnoses and leading to fewer overnight stays for patients, University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust said.

The official opening was conducted by Julian Parfitt, a Selsey man who had been treated by the hospital's emergency care team when he suffered complications after being bitten by an insect in Japan.

Mr Parfitt said: "The SDEC service has allowed me to visit the hospital for a short time each for an IV course and being able to recover and stay at home while undergoing treatment has so many benefits.

"Despite having a debilitating condition, the wonderful team at St Richard's SDEC have made it possible for me to live as normal a life as possible and for that I am eternally grateful."

'Game changer'

The new unit is 10 times the size of its predecessor and is open from 08:00 to 22:00 each day.

It has spaces to treat 18 patients at a time.

Lead consultant and acute physician, Dr Neal Gent, said: "Our new SDEC is, quite simply, a game-changer for our patients and the urgent care we can provide.

"Patients can attend at a time when investigations, clinicians and senior review are all available for them.

"This means they are much less likely to join a long queue on arrival. We can see them more quickly and carry out the right diagnostic tests needed to develop a care plan that helps them avoid an overnight stay in hospital."

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