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Older Persons Decision Unit (OPDU)
The University Hospital Southampton and Solent OPDU in Same Day Emergency Care (SDEC) is to provide a specialist urgent assessment and treatment for older patients over 80 years. The team is led by a Consultant Geriatrician. The patients are given a clear plan of care with the hope of discharging people where possible. If this is not clinically suitable, the aim is to facilitate a smooth admission and minimising length of stay in hospital.
Referral criteria
It is primarily for patients over the age of 80 years with an acute medical presentation referred either directly by their General Practitioners, South Central Ambulance Service, Community Healthcare Professionals, or pulled from Emergency Department through a streaming process. This group of patients come under the Speciality of Medicine for Older People (MOP).
Referrals are received by the Consultant Geriatrician, Specialist Registrar, or appropriately experienced Advanced Clinical Practitioners (ACP)/ trainee ACP’s (tACP).
Full service description
The University Hospital Southampton and Solent OPDU in Same Day Emergency Care (SDEC) is to provide a specialist urgent assessment and treatment for older patients over 80 years. The team is led by a Consultant Geriatrician. The patients are given a clear plan of care with the hope of discharging people where possible. If this is not clinically suitable, the aim is to facilitate a smooth admission and minimising length of stay in hospital.
The OPDU in SDEC is a six bedded assessment area comprising of five bays and one side room
The benefits associated with treating people through the SDEC 80plus pathway:
- Provide specialist assessment for elderly patients in an appropriate environment with the hope of getting people home the same day if clinically safe to do so
- Reduce activity in the Emergency Department, therefore having a positive impact on waiting times
- Reduce unnecessary hospital admissions
- Ensure right care in the right place at the right time
- Improve patient experience and satisfaction
- Improve patient flow
- Avoid unplanned and longer than necessary stays in hospital, resulting in lower risk of infections and deconditioning for patients.
SDEC EXCLUSION CRITERIA
- Head Injury on anticoagulants
- Suspected fracture
- Suspected ischaemic limb
- Ongoing cancer treatment under oncology
- Suspected stroke
- Cardiac sounding chest pain
- Abdominal pain
- Wound care requiring irrigation and/or closure
- Need for high flow oxygen
- High NEWS2 score
Other information & documentation
- TEL: 023 80 777 222 BLEEP 1012
- TEL: 023 8120 1175
Contact Information
Same Day Emergency Care, C Level, North Wing, University Hospital Southampton,, Termona Road, Southampton, SO16 6YD
Opening hours
- Monday 9:00-20:00
- Tuesday 9:00-20:00
- Wednesday 9:00-20:00
- Thursday 9:00-20:00
- Friday 9:00-20:00
- Saturday 9:00-20:00
- Sunday 9:00-20:00