The A&E unit that’s only for the over-80s
THE NHS is launching its first dedicated A&E for elderly people in a push to reduce waiting times.
Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital will open the special unit for over-80s at the end of the month in the hope of easing pressure on the main emergency department.
As soon as anyone over the age of 80 arrives at the regular A&E, they will be sent to the new ‘older people’s emergency department’ – which the hospital has already dubbed ‘OPED’ for short.
The hospital expects about 50 patients a day to pass through the new facility.
It will be staffed by a team of specialist doctors and nurses in emergency and geriatric medicine. If patients need to be admitted they will be sent to a geriatric ward.
Dr Frankie Swords, chief of the hospital’s medical division, said: ‘For older patients, we know that the earlier we can assess a patient, the quicker we can get them back to full health, regain their independence and avoid hospital admission.’
Many hospitals already have separate A&E units for children – recognising that young patients need to be seen quickly and often require specialist medical care.
But the Norfolk and Norwich is the first to attempt the same approach for the elderly. With A&E waiting times across the NHS on the rise, experts are increasingly worried about the elderly suffering long waits for treatment.
The British Medical Association estimates nearly three million people will have to wait more than four hours at A&E over the next 12 months – 370,000 more than last year, with this winter expected to be the worst on record.
As well as being particularly vulnerable if left to wait, elderly people also often have complex conditions which take a long time to deal with. This can have a knock- on effect on waiting times for other patients. The Norfolk and Norwich has also set up a new non- emergency assessment unit for elderly people, which allows GPs to refer patients to be seen by a specialist geriatrician within 48 hours.
Dr Martyn Patel, a consultant for older people’s medicine at the hospital, said: ‘Norfolk is home to one of the largest populations of older people in country, which is continuing to grow at a fast rate.
‘This means we’ve got to do something that no one else has done before in the UK, to ensure our older patients are able to receive the best care most appropriate to their needs in a timely manner.’
Caroline Abrahams, of Age UK, said: ‘The earlier an older patient is assessed the better it is for their health and wellbeing so we are delighted to hear about this innovative older people’s emergency unit. Being able to access excellent health and care services makes a huge difference to older people.’
The move will be closely watched by hospitals across the country with the number of over-80s expected to double by 2037. The number of over-90s has already reached a record 571,254, ONS figures show.
‘This will make a huge difference’