What is an acute ward?
An acute ward is a ward in a hospital where you are sent from A&E, if the doctors feel you are too unwell to go home.
There may be an Acute Medical Unit (AMU) that acts as a bridge to an acute ward.
A few patients from Urgent Treatment or Walk-in Centre are also sent there – i.e. to an acute ward (or AMU).
How long will I stay there?
It is a facility with beds where you can be looked after for a short (2-3 days), medium (a week) or long (over two week) stay. The average length of stay in hospital is 6-7 days.
Staffing on an acute ward
It is staffed by nurses, doctors and other health professionals who look after you, and assist you until you are discharged (which is as soon as possible). You will have a named consultant who is responsible for you during your stay; and makes the key decisions regarding your treatment. Ask for the name of that consultant, their secretary’s name and telephone number. Write all this information down, as you may need it after discharge.
What happens on an acute ward?
Such wards deals with you if you are sick, and require close care and attention from medical (this means ‘not surgical’) and surgical teams – for an ‘acute’ problem. ‘Acute’ means of recent onset and quite serious.
This could includes, for example:
- Fluids and antibiotics via an intravenous ‘drip’ (into a vein)
- Investigations like blood tests, an ultrasound or CT scan
- Be reviewed by a specialist doctor or nurse.
You stay there until you are better.
Other types of ward in a hospital
Admission Ward
You may pass through an ‘admission ward’ (medical, or surgical) for 1-2 days, before you go to the acute ward. They are a sort of ‘holding camp’; where doctors make the final decision to admit you for longer, and which ward would be best for you.
Rehabilitation Ward
Another type of ward in hospitals is a ‘rehab’ (rehabilitation) one. This is where ‘medically well’ patients are transferred to (usually from acute wards) to help get them home. It is because they need more time to get back to their usual level of function; with the help of occupational therapists and physiotherapists.
Summary
What is an acute ward? An acute ward is a ward in a hospital where you are sent from A&E. Simple.
