What is acute medicine?

When someone becomes suddenly unwell, quick assessment and expert care are essential. That’s where our Acute Medicine team plays a vital role, they provide specialist care for adults who arrive at the hospital with serious medical illnesses. Dr Ruth Copeland and Dr Patrick Harnett explain. 

What is acute medicine? 

Acute medicine focuses on patients who need urgent medical attention and cannot be safely managed in primary care. Patients are usually referred to the service by their GP or through A&E when their symptoms suggest a serious medical condition that requires hospital treatment. 

We regularly care for patients with conditions such as heart attack, stroke, pneumonia and sepsis, as well as individuals whose complex health needs make care at home difficult. In most cases, patients will meet an experienced consultant in acute medicine early in their hospital stay and will continue to see that specialist until they are discharged. Continuity of care has been shown to lead to better patient outcomes, improved patient safety and shorter hospital stays. 

A streamlined service 

The acute medicine service is designed to work efficiently so that patients are assessed and treated quickly. With direct consultant involvement and a streamlined system, the team can make timely decisions about investigations, treatment plans and ongoing care. 

The service also supports patients who require closer monitoring, including those treated in the hospital’s medical high dependency unit, ensuring that individuals with more complex conditions receive the specialist attention they need.  

Putting patients first 

Our team exists to ensure that when patients become unwell, they receive rapid access to senior medical expertise and personalised care, helping them get the right treatment at the right time.