New unit to help cut hospital admissions

A new assessment and treatment unit will make sure patients are “treated in the right place at the right time”, Manx Care has said.

The Ambulatory Assessment & Treatment Unit (AATU) at Noble’s Hospital is part of the health care provider’s transformation programme.

The unit, which supports same day or next day care delivery, is designed to allow patients to receive treatment when staying in hospital is not, or no longer, required.

The unit is part of Manx Care’s initiatives to prevent unnecessary hospital admissions and allow for the timely discharge of patients who have been receiving inpatient treatment.

Referrals to the unit can be made by GPs, the Manx Emergency Doctors Service, the emergency department, the ambulance service and staff across hospital clinics.

Those seen by the team would receive a treatment plan and could be asked to attend the AATU for follow up treatment.

The unit was official opened by Manx Care chief executive Teresa Cope earlier.

A spokeswoman for Manx Care said during the first phase of the unit’s operation it was set to be based in Ward 19 at Noble’s Hospital, which was previously the private patients’ ward, until a permanent location for it is identified.

It would be open between 09:00 and 17:00 on weekdays and from 10:00 to 14:00 at weekends, she added.

Manx Care’s clinical practitioner and service lead Gavin Turnbull said the health care provider was “pleased to be moving forward in this initiative to reduce unnecessary admissions”.

The new unit would also “ensure that patients are treated in the right place at the right time, making sure an appropriate service is available for their clinical need”, he added.

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