Respiratory assessment day unit helps improve patient care

A new day unit at the William Harvey Hospital in Ashford is helping support patients with respiratory conditions.

The respiratory assessment day unit (RADU) is a dedicated area for people to receive care and treatment for urgent lung conditions such as asthma, chest infections or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and pleural diseases such as pleural effusion and pneumothorax, or collapsed lung.

It is the first time the Trust has had a specific unit for respiratory patients and allows people to be transferred from the hospital’s emergency department or referred from other services for urgent care.

Project lead Dr Khalil Ur Rehman said it was a significant milestone for respiratory services.

He said: “The coronavirus pandemic put significant strain on respiratory services across the region, and showed that we needed a more focussed service for our patients.

“This specialist unit is designed to streamline and improve the way we manage people with respiratory conditions, and will play a crucial role in supporting our existing services and making sure patients receive timely and effective treatment.

“I am very grateful to the management team and my respiratory colleagues, who have worked extremely hard and supported me throughout to make this project a reality, allowing us to adapt to the evolving needs of the communities we serve.”

The unit has already had positive feedback from patients, who praised the professional and kind staff.

Kate Toase, head of operations for general medicine at the hospital, said she was delighted to see the unit open.

She said: “It will provide a much-needed service for some of our most complex patients, and by providing faster treatment it can help them avoid a hospital admission and help them manage their condition.

“Each hospital stay brings the risk of deconditioning so this could have huge benefits for people.”