What is same day emergency care ?
Same Day Emergency Care, previously known as Ambulatory Care is not new but does continue to evolve as a concept. The underpinning principle is that coordinated access to assessment, diagnostics and treatment can enable some patients to avoid an overnight hospital stay (admission). Over time, many clinical conditions have shifted from traditional inpatient care to outpatient and same day – DVT and PE are clear examples.
UKAOS members are working with colleagues in acute medicine and emergency care teams to develop guidance and pathways that will support the implementation of ambulatory care pathways for oncology patients. We are also sharing examples of new and innovative AO services.
Please have a look at the links below to find an introduction to SDEC services, some guiding principles and practice examples.
If you would like to add to this information and /or share your SDEC examples, do please contact us.
We will be adding to this area as services develop ,so please revisit regularly for updates.
Same Day Emergency Care, previously known as Ambulatory Care is not new but does continue to evolve as a concept. The underpinning principle is that coordinated access to assessment, diagnostics and treatment can enable some patients to avoid an overnight hospital stay (admission). Over time, many clinical conditions have shifted from traditional inpatient care to outpatient and same day – DVT and PE are clear examples. ‘Same Day Care’ is best viewed as a spectrum of service that might support a patient in receiving same day urgent care in a variety of settings including:
• ED
• GP same day appointment
• Urgent Treatment Centre
• Community 2hour Urgent Response and Hospital at Home
• Hospital Same Day Emergency Care (SDEC)
Each of these services has a defined role which may overlap and often appear confusing . Furthermore, access may vary dependent on local geography and service configuration. It is important to note that cancer patients may benefit from all of these options at some time in the cancer journey.
Please follow this link for further information on the structure and startegy of SAMEDAY care.
Please follow this link NHS SAMEDAY strategy - A framework for the development and delivery of same day emergency care.
Follow the links below to find Case Study examples of services that deliver SAMEDAY Acute Oncology care.
1. University Hospitals Sussex Trust: Acute Oncology Same Day Emergency Care (AOSDEC) service
2. Weston Park Cancer Centre: Oncology SDEC across South Yorkshire and North Derbyshire Cancer Alliance
3. Royal Surrey FoundationTrust: Oncology Same Day Emergency Care (OSDEC) trial.
4. Whittington Health NHSTrust: Cancer patients in medical ambulatory care
5. Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust: Acute Oncology at the front door
6. Merseyside and West Lancashire Teaching Hospital Trust: Oncology SDEC
1. Royal Berkshire Foundation Trust: Query Neutropenic Sepsis Pathway through SDEC utilising Single Point of Access
Single point of access overview
A SPoA simplifies access to services by offering clinicians advice and guidance to support onward referral, ensuring patients get the right care for their needs quickly and safely, to improve patient outcomes regardless of where they present. As a partnership between community, ambulance, primary care, acute services and social care that brings together a multidisciplinary team (MDT), the SPoA can prevent avoidable ambulance dispatches and conveyances, emergency department (ED) attendances and hospital admissions.
UKAOS members are working with colleagues in acute medicine and emergency care teams to develop guidance and pathways that will support the implementation of ambulatory care pathways for oncology patients.
1. Same Day Emergency Care Pathway for Cancer Patients Presenting with Unsuspected Pulmonary Embolism.
Click on the image below
2. Same Day Emergency Care Pathway(SDEC) Pathway for Cancer Patients Presenting with Suspected Spinal Metastases and Metastatic Spinal Cord Compression
Click on the image below
3. Same Day Emergency Care (SDEC) Pathway for Cancer Patients (Solid Tumour) Presenting with Low-Risk Febrile Neutropenia
Click on the image below
The Same Day Emergency Care Pathway for the Management of Hypercalcaemia is in development and will be released in the near future.
UKAOS is pleased to publish our report and recommendations arising from the workshop Initial Management of Neutropenic Sepsis: A UKAOS Collaborative Workshop Report (2026)
UKAOS were aware that there was confusion and confliction regarding the management of patients with suspected neutropenic sepsis (NS). In response UKAOS, hosted by Wessex Cancer Alliance, convened a multidisciplinary workshop on 28th February 2025 to review the current state of neutropenic sepsis (NS) management in the UK, in the context of updated NICE sepsis guidance.
Key drivers for the meeting included:
- Concerns raised regarding definition and reporting.
- Aligning NICE sepsis and neutropenic sepsis guidance to ensure consistent recognition and escalation.
- Exploring ambulatory opportunities for low-risk febrile neutropenia (FN) patients.
- Reviewing performance, assurance, and patient safety in the context of evolving care models.
The workshop was extremely well attended and proved to be very informative and constructive resulting in the detailed report with recommendations for service and pathway delivery and the development of an updated Low Risk Febrile Neutropenia SDEC pathway.
We have captured highlights and significant conversations from the workshop in a set of slides and are happy to share these with you - please follow this LINK
Please take a look at the latest in our series of SDEC pathways. The Pathway for Cancer Patients (Solid Tumour) Presenting with Low Risk Febrile Neutropenia (LRFN) is a guide to patient assessment and ambulatory management of appropriately identified patients. It includes a detailed assessment and management checklist and pathway record along with a patient information and instruction leaflet
The pathway has been developed by a clinical working party with involvement of:
This updated and revised version of has been developed following an extensive multi-disciplinary, cross speciality consultation process including a multi-disciplinary workshop the outcomes and recommendations of which are detailed in the recently published
SDEC Pathway for Patients Presenting with Low Risk Febrile Neutropenia (LRFN)
There is an ever increasing evidence base to support the introduction of Same Day Emeregincy Care Services for Acute Oncology Patients.
Our November learning hour focused on the introduction of a dedicated SDEC service in Plymouth.
Link to Presentation Slides
Please do contact us if you would like us to add information and links to any relevant education/training courses that you provide or are developing
Please note that you should always assume that the website group, society and authors /owners of any of these documents links or guidance make no representations or guarantees as to the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of any of the content and make no warranties express implied or otherwise and cannot be held responsible for any liability, loss or damage whatsoever caused by the use of the content. You should always act within the limits of your competence and seek senior advice or support where appropriate.