Acute medicine

Overview

The trust has dedicated acute medicine consultant led services at both Barnet Hospital and the Royal Free Hospital. The service provides multidisciplinary assessment, stabilisation and treatment of acutely ill adult medical patients of all ages. 

Patients are identified in the emergency department as requiring specialist medical care. Patients are then admitted to the acute assessment unit at Barnet Hospital or to the medical assessment unit (MAU) at the Royal Free Hospital for rapid diagnosis and treatment.

Acute medicine at Barnet Hospital

Barnet Hospital was one of the first hospitals in London to set up an acute medicine service in 2004. The service was redesigned in 2010 and has expanded to provide multidisciplinary assessment, stabilisation and treatment of acutely ill adult medical patients of all ages with an anticipated length of stay of up to 72 hours.

The acute medical unit has a total of 48 beds (on CDU and Quince wards). Dedicated consultants in acute medicine provide the service with support from the general physicians within the trust. The acute medical unit has a dedicated team of senior and junior medical staff, nursing staff and allied health professionals. This includes physiotherapists, occupational therapists, and pharmacists, to provide high quality care, liaison with community-based services, and safe and coordinated discharge of patients back to the community.

Acute medicine at the Royal Free Hospital

At the Royal Free Hospital, the 32-bed MAU is located on ward 8 North on the 8th floor. The aim is to admit all patients under the care of acute medicine or health services for elderly patients via 8 North to provide high quality acute medical and multiprofessional care. This enables prompt and accurate diagnosis, appropriate treatment, and timely discharge.

There is close liaison with the respiratory team and patients with other conditions requiring specialist input are referred as necessary. The service can also follow patients up post in-patient stay in dedicated clinics when required.

Contact

Do you have an appointment?

Find your ward

  • Barnet Hospital

    Wellhouse Lane
    Barnet
    EN5 3DJ    

    Patient and GP enquiries: 020 8216 4600   

  • Royal Free Hospital

    Pond Street
    London
    NW3 2QG

    Patient enquiries: 020 7794 0500 x 36538 

    GP enquiries: 020 7794 0500

Hospital locations

Referrals

Referral details

Barnet Hospital: GP referrals at Barnet Hospital are made to the medical registrar via the switchboard on 020 8216 4600.

Royal Free Hospital: GP referrals can be made to the medical registrar via the switchboard on 020 7794 0500.

The Team

Patient leaflets

Read our patient leaflets and publications

View all patient resources