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).

Health Professional?

Full service description

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