The Medicine, Cancer and Emergency Care (MCEC) Division at Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust is delighted to announce that our 'SDEC Village' initiative has been shortlisted within the ‘Acute Sector Innovation of the Year’ category of the prestigious HSJ Awards.The Medicine, Cancer and Emergency Care (MCEC) Division at Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust is delighted to announce that our 'SDEC Village' initiative has been shortlisted within the ‘Acute Sector Innovation of the Year’ category of the prestigious HSJ Awards.
Four of our Same Day Emergency Care (SDEC) services were co-located from October 2024 in to the old Outpatient Department waiting room, which was repurposed as a set of refurbished clinical areas with a dedicated waiting area.
These teams are Ambulatory Emergency Care (AEC), Frailty Assessment Unit (FAU), Hospital at Home Team (HaHT) and our voluntary sector Dementia Advisors from ADSS. In addition to co-location, the Village has extended opening hours and increased co-operation and smooth transfers of care between teams.
The results in terms of optimising both the emergency pathway and patient experience have been deeply impressive and it is estimated that over 3,800 bed days were avoided in the first six months of operation. SDEC referrals have risen by 52%.
Some of the feedback received includes:
“Without you I wouldn’t have known what to do …”
“I’m relieved I’ll get respite and keep Dad at home.”
“Confident now I have extra support.”
“I can’t express my thanks enough.”
“Grateful not to be admitted.”
Sharron Chattenton, SDEC Lead Nurse stated "I’m immensely proud of everybody involved in delivering and developing the SDEC Village and it has been a great honour to be shortlisted for this Award”.
The Trust wishes every success to the teams involved who now have a nailbiting wait for the Awards ceremony in November.
Four of our Same Day Emergency Care (SDEC) services were co-located from October 2024 in to the old Outpatient Department waiting room, which was repurposed as a set of refurbished clinical areas with a dedicated waiting area.