Sandringham Hospital Emergency Department grows

The Emergency Short Stay Unit (ESSU) is a modern extension to the existing emergency department. It will provide the busy clinical team with more options to care for their community, and will see some patients avoid unnecessary admission to hospital.

Emergency Department Nurse Manager Emma Saddington said one of the most significant features of the ESSU is the addition of two isolation rooms.

“Being able to move patients requiring isolation quickly through emergency has the capacity to significantly improve wait times for our community,” Ms Saddington said.

“It means we’ll be able to see more patients in a timely manner, and provide urgent care to those who need it most.”

Dr Rob Melvin, Acting Director of the Emergency Department, said the new space was designed to support patients needing a stay of four to 10 hours and will enable his team to more thoroughly meet their needs.

“The services we deliver in the Short Stay Unit support a safe and timely discharge back into the community,” Dr Melvin said.

“We have senior staff in the ESSU 24-hours a day, making high level decisions to ensure patients get well and get home as quickly as possible.”

The care delivered in the unit includes antibiotic or fluid infusions, wound care, cardiac monitoring, pain management and suturing.

Dr Melvin said the ESSU’s design deliberately promoted patient wellness.

“The way the natural light flows into the build is something we rarely see in acute health care settings,” Dr Melvin said.

“Everything has been designed to promote recovery, and to ensure patient and staff comfort and safety is a priority.”