New emergency neurology service improves diagnosis and saves admissions 

A new approach to treating people arriving at hospital with concerning neurological symptoms has helped prevent unnecessary admissions, improved diagnosis and saved NHS resources, according to a new study. 

Researchers evaluated a UCLH specialist service known as Neurology Same Day Emergency Care (NeuroSDEC), which allows patients with urgent neurological problems to be assessed by a consultant neurologist to prevent an avoidable admission and delay to neurological assessment of their condition on the same day, often within an hour.   

Symptoms such as headaches, dizziness, weakness and visual disturbances are a common reason people attend emergency departments, yet they can be difficult to diagnose accurately in a busy emergency department.  

Placing neurologists at the front door enabled them to distinguish serious conditions from benign ones quickly and safely and more than one third of patients avoided being admitted altogether, completing their care safely on the same day. 

Tim Hodgson, medical director for the specialist hospitals board praised the team’s impact for both patients and the hospital said: 

“Hospital admission isn’t always the safest or best option. If someone can be assessed, treated and reassured on the same day, that’s better for the patient, and it frees up beds for those who really need them. The neurologists delivering this service have demonstrated innovation which markedly improves UCLH offer to ED patients and the success results from the partnership between managers, nurses and doctors delivering the service.”   

 The study which tracked 931 patients over 12 months showed the service reduced the number of unnecessary tests. Planned brain scans were avoided in almost 10% of cases, while invasive spinal tests, known as lumbar punctures, were reduced by around 40%.   

 The researchers estimate the service saved the equivalent of £330,000 worth of hospital admissions net staffing costs in its first year.  

 The service was developed by Dr Salman Haider, Dr Michelle Balaratnam and Dr Ali Alim-Marvasti with support from the UCLH Charity.   

Read more about the study and view the NeuroSDEC web pages.