LEADING physicians have praised the Royal Gwent Hospital's acute medical unit as an example of "best practice" for the way it provides seven-day consultant cover for patients.
The unit, which takes in patients presenting at A&E with a range of acute medical conditions, is staffed by consultant physicians for 12 hours a day, seven days a week.
That seven-day cover is a key recommendation of the Royal College of Physicians' Future Hospitals Commission, a root-and-branch review of hospital care for adult inpatients with medical illness.
College president Sir Richard Thompson, and its vice-president for Wales Dr Alan Rees, met patients and staff at the unit while in south Wales for a conference, and Dr Rees said they had been "very impressed" by what they found.
"The service has been developed over several years, and they started off with two or three acute physicians. They now have seven, and have organised a rota to provide direct care at hospital 'front door' for 12 hours a day, seven days a week," he said.
"In the context of the locality of the Royal Gwent they have provided a very good service for patients, and junior staff are happy and feel they have good support.
"Whether the model is applicable more generally is difficult to gauge, because of issues such as rurality. But the Royal Gwent is very busy and this is an excellent development."
Through the unit he said, consultant physicians have taken a lot of responsibility for the acute patient intake, spreading the workload and allowing more focus on the acutely ill.
"The RCP wants to see examples of best practice and highlight and publicise them," said Dr Rees.
"This is one model that is very successful and maybe it can be adapted to fit. We are looking for examples of best practice and this is certainly one of them."
Dr Mike Webberley, acute physician and associate divisional director at Aneurin Bevan University Health Board said the seven-day consultant presence on the acute medical unit has been achieved through the hard work and ambition of staff.
"It is great that the RCP is keen to learn from local hospitals about how we are working to improve patient care," he said.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here