SDEC is the provision of same day care for emergency patients who would otherwise be admitted to hospital. SDEC provides GPs with direct access arrangements to refer patients to hospital with relevant conditions so they can be rapidly assessed, diagnosed and treated without being admitted to a ward, and if clinically safe to do so, will go home the same day their care is provided.
As a GP you can refer patients to SDEC most of our hospitals. Referring to SDEC at the earliest opportunity reduces any unnecessary clinical contact, and time spent in ED waiting rooms and allows patients to spend hours, rather than days, in hospital which improves their experience and benefits patient flow, which is particularly important as we approach winter.
The attached document has the SDEC contact information for each hospital in north east London that offers it and a referral criteria flow chart. Please contact the relevant SDEC before making the referral. It is not a walk in service and these numbers are for GPs only to use.
Please feel free to print and stick up in your room for easy reference.