Surgical Assessment Unit: 08:00 - 17:00 (last referral 15:00)
Patient Inclusion Criteria – to be seen in SAU if space available
- Patients ≥16 years of age
- Patient must be stable (NEWS < 4)
- Pain score < 5/10
- Able to walk to SAU
Not suitable for SAU
- Surgical patients needing resuscitation or NEWS ≥ 4
- Trauma (Orthopaedic/Plastic)
- Non-surgical patients (Gynaecological, Medical)
- Urology patients (CDU)
- AAA or vascular emergency patients
- Elderly / Frail
- Infection control issues - D±V in last 48 hours, MRSA/VRE, COVID
SAU Referral process
- Clinical referral from EM Senior Decision Maker
- ALL investigations to be completed in the SAU
Surgical Review in ED: 15:00 - 06:00 (06:00 - 08:00 urgent referrals)
- Referral from EM clinical team
- All non-radiological investigations to be completed in the ED
Standard Referral process for both pathways
- Surgical Registrar on-call, VPN 67639
- If unavailable – Surgical SHO, VPN 62362
Agreed pathway
Wound referrals CUH
The surgical specialties in CUH have confirmed that wound referrals will be accepted as agreed below:
- Facial wounds or burns = plastic surgery
- Limb injuries = plastics (with below considerations)
- Wounds to anterior aspect of knee should first be seen by Orthopaedics
- Tendon injuries to the lower limb should be seen/treated by Orthopaedics
- More specific details on plastic surgery referral criteria
- Neck = ENT via CUH general surgeons (± angio)
- Trunk = General or Thoracic surgery (depending on location)