A new Same Day Emergency Care (SDEC) unit at St Richard’s Hospitals is redefining the experience of urgent care for patients in Chichester and the surrounding areas.
The £6 million investment by University Hospitals Sussex provides patients with a prompt review and diagnosis from a dedicated, multi-specialty team of expert clinicians on the same day, helping them avoid unnecessary overnight stays in hospital.
Lead consultant and acute physician, Dr Neal Gent, said: “Our new SDEC is, quite simply, a game-changer for our patients and the urgent care we can provide.
“Thanks to our dedicated staffing, patients can attend at a time when investigations, clinicians and senior review are all available for them.
“This means they are much less likely to join a long queue on arrival. We can see them more quickly and carry out the right diagnostic tests needed to develop a care plan that helps them avoid an overnight stay in hospital.
“We’re already seeing more than 300 patients a week and their feedback makes it very clear that we’re having a huge impact for patients and improving care and experience all round.”
The SDEC was officially opened on 31 October 2025 by Julian Parfitt, a 60-year-old patient from Selsey who has used the emergency care services at St Richard’s Hospital for many years, to treat rare complications from a suspected insect bite in Japan. Julian was invited by hospital staff to the cut ribbon at the opening ceremony, in front of an audience of invited guests that included Jess Brown-Fuller MP, Andrew Griffith MP and Alison Griffiths MP.
Julian said: “I have spent a lot of time in the much smaller and older SDEC unit and have observed an incredibly cohesive, compassionate, smart, focused and experienced team of staff providing first class care for patients, so it’s wonderful to see them now in much bigger and better environment.
“The SDEC service has allowed me to visit the hospital for a short time each for an IV course and being able to recover and stay at home while undergoing treatment has so many benefits. Despite having a debilitating condition, the wonderful team at St Richard’s SDEC have made it possible for me to live as normal a life as possible and for that I am eternally grateful.
“Furthermore, the significant investment University Hospitals Sussex has made to expand the same day emergency care unit will be life-changing for many people and I would like to thank everyone involved on behalf of all past, existing and future patients for the unstinting work in improving the quality of life for all.”
Modern, open- plan layout
The new SDEC is more than ten times larger than the previous unit. Open from 8am to 10pm each day, it provides assessment and treatment for medical, surgical, urological, and orthopaedic patients, with common presentations including chest pains, deep vein thrombosis, cellulitis, acute kidney injury, abdominal pain and gallbladder/biliary issues. Patients are referred by their GP or from other teams in the hospital.
The new department includes 18 clinical spaces (chairs and trolleys), including an isolation bay and a procedure room, as well as a large waiting area, dedicated reception area, protected triage room, three clinic rooms, and a large clinical office.
The modern open plan layout supports closer supervision of all patients in the unit by a dedicated multi-disciplinary team, including nurses, advanced care practitioners, resident doctors, acute physicians and consultants visiting from all specialities.
Interim chief executive, Dr Andy Heeps, said: “The opening of this fantastic new SDEC unit is a clear example of our huge strategic investment in modernising our Urgent and Emergency Care facilities.
“This is a key ambition of our new strategy, Excellent Care Everywhere – to provide a dedicated services that ensure patients receive the right expertise in the right place, supported by prompt access to radiology, pharmacy, and laboratory services.
“The SDEC dramatically improves patient flow, reduces unnecessary inpatient stays, and delivers a vastly improved experience for both our patients and expert teams.”
Other current improvements at St Richard’s Hospital include a new Urgent Treatment Centre under development as part of a reconfiguration of the main Emergency Department, and another Same Day Emergency Care unit dedicated to frailty and older patients open in November 2025.
Looking ahead, a multi-million redevelopment of the hospital’s diagnostic block is due to start soon, and work begins on the construction of a new 24/7 specialist Acute Stroke Centre next year, scheduled to open for patients in 2027. The new stroke centre is being built by Morgan Sindall Construction which also completed the works for the new SDEC earlier this year.
Further details about investment at St Richard’s Hospital are available in the Trust’s new strategy Excellent Care Everywhere.