Our proposed changes to the way we deliver emergency care would mean that, in a life or limb-threatening emergency, patients from Surrey Downs, Sutton and Merton would be treated in a single, dedicated, purpose-built specialist emergency care hospital. Here, you would receive 24 hours a day, seven days a week care from specialist emergency doctors and nurses. This would improve the recovery of our patients and lead to faster diagnosis, earlier treatment and improved clinical outcomes.
As happens now with our existing A&E departments, in an emergency situation most patients would arrive by ambulance. As soon as you arrive, you would be assessed by the emergency clinical team who would decide on the best place for your care:
- If doctors decide that you do not need emergency care then you would be directed to the 24 hour UTC which would be based alongside the Emergency Department
- If needed, you would receive emergency care and treatment in the Emergency Department without delay.