After three months of building works and £1.6m of investment, Frimley Park Hospital’s newly refurbished Medical SDEC (Same Day Emergency Care) unit is now officially open – aimed at enhancing urgent care services for the local community.

The Medical SDEC unit provides rapid assessment, diagnostics, and treatment for patients with urgent medical needs. These patients can present with a range of symptoms such as chest pain, headaches accompanied by symptoms that are suitable for same-day investigations and intervention.

By providing rapid assessment, diagnostics and treatment, the Medical SDEC service plays a vital role in easing pressure on the Emergency Department (ED) and helping patients receive the right care more quickly, as well as preventing unnecessary admission to hospital.

Refurbished and redesigned, the 181sqm unit is now a much more welcoming space which supports a more streamlined and efficient flow of care. The upgrade includes two new consultant rooms while existing bays have been transformed into dedicated consulting areas to improve patient privacy during diagnostic examinations.

The new reception and waiting room now has double the capacity, with a large triage room that sits directly off the waiting area. The unit includes eight recliner chairs for patients to rest after or between tests, four consultation rooms and six consulting and treatment areas. A new Point‑of‑Care (POC) room allows diagnostic tests to be carried out on‑site, and updated emergency call and alarm systems have also been installed. Heating, ventilation and toilet facilities have all been improved, while new skylights and LED lighting have helped create a lighter, brighter environment. Staff also benefit from upgraded clinical support and office spaces.

Dr Anika Wijewardane, Clinical Director of Urgent and Emergency Care and Acute Medical Consultant, said: “The newly refurbished Medical SDEC is part of our acute medicine service, which sits under the umbrella of Urgent and Emergency Care (UEC). Acute medicine is the service that delivers focussed treatment for patients who require acute medical care in the first 72 hours of their hospital stay.

"Medical SDEC is the part of the service that aims to deliver this care on the same day, avoiding the need for admission, where appropriate to do so. The refurbished unit will give us greater capacity to provide this care and will help patients move smoothly from triage to treatment to discharge. We’re very excited to return to the new-look unit and continue caring for our patients.”

Patients can be referred directly to Medical SDEC by their GP, paramedics or following assessment in ED.