Acute medical unit (AMU)

The purpose of the Acute medical unit (AMU) is:

• To be a dedicated area for the assessment, diagnosis and management of acutely ill medical patients
• To bring together the skills and experience of different healthcare professionals in one area
• To provide an area of safety for unstable patients requiring very close observation
• To minimise duplication of work between teams of doctors in emergency medicine, acute medicine and specialist teams
• To improve timely access to appropriate investigations
• To shorten time between admission and discharge
• To prevent admission where possible
• To reduce pressure on the emergency department
• To optimise the clinical experience and educational goals of doctors in training.
• To participate in acute care related research and development.

Patients are either referred from the Emergency Department or by their General Practitioner (GP).

Patients stay on the unit for a maximum of 48 hours before being transferred to the most appropriate area for their care, or discharged with a plan for their treatment. Our aim is to have 30% of our patients discharged the same day they are admitted, and to reduce patients' overall length of stay within the hospital. 

Where necessary, patients may be offered follow-up in the Ambulatory Care Unit or a specialist clinic.