A new initiative, benefitting patients with minor injuries and illnesses, is to be launched at Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
Instead of waiting overnight in the Trust’s Emergency Department (ED) at the Royal Albert Edward Infirmary, patients who meet the criteria will be asked to return the following day to be assessed and treated at either the Urgent Treatment Centre (UTC) or Same Day Emergency Care (SDEC) Department.
Chief Nursing Officer, Kev Parker-Evans, said: “This is just another way that WWL is aiming to improve our patient’s experience and ease pressures within our Emergency Department. Our clinical and nursing teams have worked hard to develop a robust criteria to allow us to make safe and efficient decisions to improve patient care so that the right treatment is provided in the right place, at the right time.”
As well as easing overnight pressure at the Emergency Department and ensuring urgent cases are prioritised, patient safety will remain the top priority, with each case being clinically reviewed to ensure that a short delay in treatment will not affect the patient’s recovery or outcome.
Patients who prefer to stay in the Emergency Department overnight are still welcome to do so. As patients will be seen based on clinical urgency, waiting times may vary.