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<p>In February 2012, Whittington Health opened an adult pilot ambulatory care unit.
It was co-located within the emergency department with the aim of reducing unnecessary
admissions by providing senior clinical decision making and advanced diagnostics at
the front door of the hospital.</p><p> </p><p><strong> </strong></p><p> </p><p>Following
the success of the pilot, a new £3 million dedicated ambulatory care centre opened
at The Whittington Hospital in March 2014. This was officially opened by my Rt hon.
Friend, Norman Lamb, the Minister of State for Care and Support on 4 December 2014.</p><p>
</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Attendances at the unit have increased from 4,402 in 2012-13
to 6,165 in 2013-14.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The centre plays an important part
in supporting timely discharge from wards. Since the unit opened the length of stay
at the hospital has reduced by an average half a day for ambulatory conditions. This
has increased capacity for wards to take other admissions.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>
</p><p>We are advised that there is high patient satisfaction with the unit, with
over 90% of patients surveyed rate the overall service they receive in ambulatory
care as either good or very good.</p><p> </p><p><strong> </strong></p><p> </p>
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