Members of the ACE nursing team were pleased to meet local MP Giles Watling at Clacton Hospital to show him around the variety of services on offer.

This included the Urgent Treatment Centre (UTC) which was formerly the minor injuries unit but is now able to see people with minor illness too.  Since going live last October, the UTC has seen approximately 110 per day, many of whom would otherwise have had to travel to the Emergency Department (ED) in Colchester.

Giles was also taken around the St Oysth Priory ward which is run by ACE with beds for both rehabilitation and end of life care.

"Giles seemed genuinely touched when he heard how we help patients out of the acute environment to enable them to die closer to home in the Community Hospital" said Debbie, Ward Manager.  "We pride ourselves on giving care that matters and this resonated with him."

The team then talked Giles through the Integrated Rapid Assessment Service (IRAS) which is a multi disciplinary team approach based in the ED at Colchester Hospital.  The IRAS team identify patients who do not require an acute admission and instead facilitate a discharge into an alternative community setting using community and residential beds as well as to the patient's home where possible. They also provide nursing, social and therapy assessments and, if required, basic equipment.  Giles was keen to offer his support to this service.

Finally, Giles visited the Coronavirus (COVID-19) area that is set up and ready to go should we have any suspected cases in this area.