The role and impact of same day emergency care
A lot of hospitals are very busy, leading to long waits in A&E. To help with this, the NHS introduced Same Day Emergency Care (SDEC) services. These services aim to treat people on the same day for various urgent conditions, avoiding an overnight hospital stay. This can be better for patients, reduce possible complications, and save money for the NHS. However, these services are run differently across the UK, and we don't fully understand their impact. This study wants to find out how SDEC services are affecting patient care, hospital admissions, and A&E performance across the country. By looking at existing research, surveying hospitals, and analysing NHS data, the study hopes to improve how these important services work.
At a glance
What is this study about?
Our hospitals, especially A&E departments, are becoming increasingly busy, which can mean longer waiting times for people when they need urgent care. Sometimes, these delays can make it challenging for hospitals to provide the best care for everyone. To address this, the NHS developed something called Same Day Emergency Care (SDEC) services. The idea behind SDEC is to treat people with certain urgent conditions without them needing to stay in hospital overnight. This quick assessment, diagnosis, and treatment can often lead to better experiences for patients, fewer complications, and it can also save money for the NHS.
Even though many hospitals now offer SDEC, they operate quite differently from place to place. Because of these differences, we don't really know for sure how effective these services are across the country. This study aims to get a clear picture of what effect SDEC services are actually having on patients, on how many people are admitted to hospital, and on the overall performance of A&E departments.
To do this, the researchers will be looking at existing information, talking to staff and patients, and analysing anonymised NHS data from hospitals across England. The goal is to understand what works well, what challenges exist, and how SDEC services can be improved to benefit more patients and ease the pressure on our busy hospitals.
Key takeaways
- Aims to understand how Same Day Emergency Care (SDEC) services are working in UK hospitals.
- Hopes to improve patient care and reduce long waiting times in A&E.
- Involves looking at hospital data, surveying hospitals, and interviewing staff and some patients/carers.
- Main benefits include contributing to better, more efficient urgent care services in the future.
- Participation for patients or carers involves sharing past experiences with SDEC, if invited to an interview.
Who may be eligible?
This study is mainly about gathering information from hospitals and understanding how their Same Day Emergency Care (SDEC) services work.
However, some parts of the study will involve speaking to people. For these discussions, researchers will be talking to staff members who work in A&E and SDEC departments, like doctors, nurses, and managers. They also want to speak to patients and their family members or carers who have used SDEC services.
To take part in these conversations, you need to be 18 years or older. The researchers will make sure that any patients or family members they speak to have used an SDEC service before.
Could this study suit you?
Answer these quick questions to see if you may be eligible. This is a guide only — the research team makes the final call.
- Are you 18 years old or older?
- Have you or someone you care for been referred to a Same Day Emergency Care (SDEC) service?
- Are you willing to share your experiences about using an SDEC service?
- Are you able to take part in an interview (if invited)?
What does participation involve?
This study involves several stages, but it's important to know that most of the work will be done by researchers looking at existing information and talking to hospital staff.
If you are a patient, carer, or family member who has used a Same Day Emergency Care (SDEC) service, you might be invited to take part in an interview. This interview would involve discussing your experiences with SDEC services, including what worked well and any challenges you faced. These interviews help the researchers understand the real-life impact of SDEC. The exact length and number of interviews would be explained to you before you agree to take part, but they typically involve a single discussion. The total duration of your involvement would be limited to the time of the interview.
Potential risks and benefits
Locations (1)
- Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation TrustCity onlySheffield, England
Common questions
What is Same Day Emergency Care (SDEC)?
SDEC is a service in hospitals that aims to assess, diagnose, and treat urgent conditions so you can go home the same day, avoiding an overnight hospital stay.
Why is this study being done?
Hospitals are busy, and this study wants to see if SDEC services are helping patients and hospitals efficiently across the country, as they are run differently everywhere.
Will I have to stay in hospital if I join?
No, this study is about understanding existing SDEC services. You would not be admitted to hospital as part of this research, unless it was for your usual medical care.
What does participating involve for patients?
If you're a patient or carer, you might be invited for an interview to share your experiences with an SDEC service you've used. Most of the study involves looking at hospital data and talking to hospital staff.
Who is paying for this research?
The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) in the UK is funding this study.
How to find out more
Richard Jacques
Always speak to your GP or specialist before deciding to take part in a study.
Discussion
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