Clinical service achievements

We are thrilled that the Medical and Surgical Same Day Emergency Care (SDEC) teams at University Hospitals of Derby and Burton (UHDB) have been shortlisted for both the HSJ Patient Safety Awards and the NHS Parliamentary Awards respectively following a highly competitive nomination process.

This accomplishment recognises the incredible contribution of both teams to improving patient care and outcomes in our urgent and emergency care department and reducing operational pressure throughout the Trust, using the SDEC model.

The HSJ Patient Safety Awards will be taking place on Monday 16 September at Manchester Central, and the NHS Parliamentary Awards will be held on Monday 14 October at the Queen Elizabeth II Centre in Westminster, London.

What is SDEC and why are we using this model at UHDB?

SDEC is a healthcare model designed to assess, diagnose and treat patients on the same day, and reduce hospital admissions. For both medical and surgical pathways, SDEC means we can provide patients with timely and efficient urgent care without the need for a hospital stay overnight. Hospital space and resources can then be redirected to seeing and treating more patients, getting them the care they need as quickly as possible.  

This model has been critical to support our urgent and emergency department during peak periods such as winter, when services are under greater pressure, and we see a higher volume of people in need of care. Through SDEC, our surgical and medical pathways have been able to streamline patient care to dedicated units and collectively achieve our ambition to deliver exceptional care together.

Congratulations to both teams on being shortlisted and recognised nationally for these highly sought-after award nominations, and for their hard work to plan and deliver a strong and high quality SDEC service that makes a difference to our patients and communities.

How Medical SDEC (mSDEC) have helped reduce hospital admissions and enhance patient experience

Our mSDEC team has been nominated for the 'Urgent and Emergency Care Safety Initiative of the Year' at the HSJ Patient Safety Awards.

This nomination acknowledges the team's successful transformation of patient pathways at Royal Derby Hospital - which launched as part of the Trust’s plan to address high service use periods, such as winter, and provide a single point of access (SPOA) for patients needing urgent care. The SPOA project was developed in four weeks, driven by incredible determination and hard work from the team to ensure patients receive the right care, in the right place, and the right time.

Since its implementation, the mSDEC has shown remarkable improvements in patient care. The number of patients treated in the SDEC has increased by 57% compared to the same period last year, with the average daily patient count rising from 60 to 93. The team’s efforts have also resulted in a 64% increase in patients being discharged directly from the SDEC, freeing up bed space for patients that need it the most and supporting patient flow across the hospital . In addition, the team have successfully reduced the average time patients spend in the emergency department - with the team bringing 61% of emergency department patients into their care within four hours, compared with 26% for the previous year.

Lucy Smith, Deputy General Manager for the Derby Acute Medicine Business Unit, who heads up mSDEC, said that their focus has been on creating a "seamless patient journey" that prioritises safety and efficiency. She said:

"The time spent by our patients waiting for care in an emergency setting is critical to their outcomes - let alone their overall experience when receiving care - and our ability to stream patients directly into the mSDEC has dramatically reduced this. This has also empowered our staff by streamlining their workflows, supporting them to concentrate on delivering the high-quality care our communities have the right to expect.

"Being shortlisted for the HSJ Patient Safety Awards is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our team - affirming all that we've done, and all that we will continue to do. This nomination will really help motivate us to continue pushing the boundaries of what can be achieved in urgent and emergency care.

"It's incredibly rewarding to see the positive impact this has had on both our patients and staff."

Surgical SDEC (sSDEC) recognised for their excellence in urgent, same-day emergency care

Our sSDEC team has been shortlisted for the 'Excellence in Urgent and Emergency Care Award' at the NHS Parliamentary Awards. This recognition celebrates the team's role in delivering same-day surgical care, which has significantly improved patient outcomes and satisfaction.

sSDEC was established to manage a high volume of surgical patients more effectively by providing same-day assessments and treatments, avoiding prolonged hospital stays and overnight admissions for our patients - helping to enhance overall patient experience through their swift surgical interventions so that they receive timely and quality care, while simultaneously freeing up vital Trust resources for more critically ill patients.

As with the mSDEC team, by providing the necessary diagnostics and treatments in a single service that operates on a same-day basis, this reduces demand on hospital beds and has led to a more efficient allocation of resources across the Trust - evidence of just one of the ways our organisation strives to work innovatively to ensure we can provide exceptional care to our communities each and every time.

Corinne Hallsworth, Matron for Surgery and head of the Surgical SDEC team, expressed her pride in the nomination - saying: "We are incredibly honoured to be recognised - it is a tremendous honour and a reflection of the tireless efforts of our team to continuously improve patient care and outcomes.

"We take immense pride in what we do, and we know that our hard work is paying off. Not only do we have the data to support this, but on top of this amazing nomination, we have received plenty of positive feedback from our patients who have repeatedly expressed their appreciation for the prompt and professional care they received.

"sSDEC has fundamentally changed how we approach urgent surgical care, which puts patient experience at the forefront of all that we do. By providing these same-day treatments, we support our emergency department and broader UHDB colleagues through reducing admissions and freeing up vital resources - all while delivering care that ensures our patients are back home and recovering as soon as possible."

How both Medical and Surgical SDEC are looking to the future

Both SDEC teams have plans to further expand and share best practices across the region. The Medical SDEC team is exploring the introduction of additional pathways, including virtual wards and community care options, to continue reducing hospital admissions and improving patient outcomes​. Similarly, the Surgical SDEC team is working closely with other departments to implement the SDEC model in additional specialties, ensuring that more patients benefit from this efficient and effective approach to urgent care.

Looking to the future, the teams will continue to put the patient at the centre of their endeavour - and the shortlisting for these prestigious awards evidences the SDEC team's collective innovation and the positive impact it has had on patient safety, care quality, and our overall efficiency.