New medical SDEC opens at Croydon University Hospital
A new Medical Same Day Emergency Care (MSDEC) unit has officially opened at Croydon University Hospital, strengthening the Trust’s ability to provide timely, specialist care for patients requiring urgent medical assessment and treatment, and further embedding same day emergency care across services.
The MSDEC unit is designed for clinically stable patients attending the Emergency Department (ED) who require prompt medical review, investigations or treatment but may not need an overnight hospital stay. By bringing specialist teams, diagnostics and decision‑making together in one place, the unit enables patients to receive the care they need on the same day they arrive wherever it is safe to do so.
Supporting safe, efficient and patient‑centred careThe Same Day Emergency Care model is a key part of the NHS’s wider approach to delivering the right care, in the right place, at the right time, and builds on the significant work the Trust has been developing over many years.
MSDEC allows patients who would previously have required admission to be assessed, diagnosed and treated by specialist medical teams on the same day. Where it is clinically appropriate, patients can return home that day, avoiding an unnecessary overnight stay. This improves patient experience, reduces waiting times, improves patient flow through the hospital and helps ensure inpatient beds are available for those who need them most.
At Croydon, MSDEC works alongside frailty and other ambulatory services, playing a vital role in delivering high‑quality, responsive care while supporting the wider health system by reducing avoidable admissions and easing pressure on wards and the Emergency Department.
The unit supports a range of patient pathways, including direct ambulatory referrals from primary care such as GPs, ED‑redirected patients who meet MSDEC criteria, and referrals accepted by the relevant on‑call medical teams. All patients redirected to MSDEC are reviewed or accepted by the appropriate specialty team to confirm they meet the unit’s admission criteria. Patients who do not meet these criteria continue to receive care within ED or inpatient services as appropriate.
A milestone moment
The new unit was officially opened on Monday 13 April by Rezza Motazed, who reflected on the Trust’s journey in developing ambulatory emergency care and the positive impact MSDEC has had on patient flow, quality of care and patient experience. Teams will continue to build on these established pathways to further strengthen same day emergency care across the Trust.
The opening was also particularly meaningful as the unit has been named in memory of Liz Well, who played a pivotal role in its development before sadly losing her battle with cancer. A commemorative plaque bearing her name sits at the entrance to the unit, recognising the lasting impact she had on colleagues, patients and services across the Trust.