New Surgical MSDEC opens at Croydon University Hospital
A new Medical Surgical Same Day Emergency Care (MSDEC) unit has officially opened at Croydon University Hospital, strengthening the Trust’s ability to provide timely, specialist care for emergency surgical patients.
Formerly known as the Ambulatory Surgical Hub (ASH), Surgical MSDEC is designed for stable patients attending the Emergency Department (ED) who are under surgical, orthopaedic, urology or gynaecology specialties. These patients may require admission but would benefit from a more detailed clinical review, additional investigations, or an emergency procedure without the need for an overnight stay.
Supporting safe and efficient patient care
Surgical SDEC supports a range of patient pathways, including:
- Direct ambulatory referrals from primary care, such as GPs
- Reviews for patients on surgical ambulatory pathways through the Hot Clinic
- ED‑redirected ambulatory patients who meet Surgical SDEC criteria
- ED referrals accepted by the relevant on‑call surgical team
All patients redirected to Surgical SDEC must first be reviewed or accepted by the appropriate on‑call team and confirmed as meeting the unit’s admission criteria. Patients who do not meet these criteria will continue to receive care in ED.
Opening hours and location
The unit is open seven days a week, from 8am to 8pm, with the final ED patient received by 5pm. Surgical SDEC is based within the Emergency Surgical Centre on the ground floor of the Jubilee Wing at Croydon University Hospital.
A milestone moment
The state‑of‑the‑art unit was officially opened on Monday 13 April by Rezza Motazed, who reflected on the journey and development of ambulatory emergency care across the Trust, including the success of Medical Same Day Emergency Care (MSDEC). The team will continue to build on these established pathways to enhance patient flow, quality of care and experience.
The opening was particularly significant as the unit has been dedicated in memory of Liz Well, who played a pivotal role in its development before sadly losing her battle with cancer. A commemorative plaque at the entrance of the unit honours her contribution and lasting legacy.