A NEW ward aimed at helping to take the pressure off Worcester’s stretched A&E department has been given a welcome clean bill of health by commissioners.

The new Surgical Clinical Decisions Unit (SCDU) at Worcestershire Royal Hosp-ital officially opened in May, offering a dedicated area for people requiring urgent surgical assessment or treatment and freeing up busy emergency ward staff to deal with other patients.

Worcestershire’s three clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) – who are responsible for deciding how NHS funding should be spent in the county –- recently visited the new department to give it a thorough inspection.

Their report praised the clean and pleasant environment of the unit, with further positive feedback for spacious treatment rooms and good infection prevention and control practises.

All patients spoken to said they were satisfied with the care they were receiving and the quality of food on offer.

Catherine Whitehouse, dep-uty executive nurse for quality and patient safety at Redditch and Bromsgrove and Wyre Forest CCG, said: “We were welcomed by the SCDU team who demonstrated commitment and motivation and were very accommodating and helpful. All the patients we spoke with were complimentary about their experiences on the unit.”

Delighted ward matron Julie Kite said: “This is fantastic news for our team. This visit re-affirms the good nursing practise, care and treatment we have put in place over the last six months. Every member of staff on the unit takes great pride in their work, and it is great to hear that our efforts are being recognised, both by patients and the CCGs.”