A new short-stay unit has opened at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in King's Lynn.

The 34-bed unit, on Terrington ward, will work closely with the Medical Assessment Unit and will cater for patients who can be treated and discharged within 72 hours.

The move will leave the current assessment unit to concentrate on patients needing to be assessed and referred within an eight hour window.

A team from within the hospital has been put together for Terrington short-stay and the project is being led by medical director Dr Geoff Hunnam.

The aim is to ensure the right care is provided at the right place and time, said a hospital spokesman.

'Although this is a straightforward concept it is subject to the huge demands on our resources in

winter, when admissions increase sharply,' he said.

'Re-designing the patient care 'pathways' is intended to alleviate issues resulting from emergency patients having to be given beds on elective wards at busy times,' he added.

This will help protect beds designated for elective patients which are used for emergency admissions when high numbers of people are admitted.

It is hoped the new unit will help reduce the length of time patients spend in the QEH while helping to prevent avoidable admissions.

'Another outcome from the change is that staff will be given a greater sense of 'ownership' and responsibility for their part of the care pathway.