New Same Day Emergency Care unit officially opens at St Richard's Hospital in Chichester

A brand-new Same Day Emergency Care unit officially opened at St Richard’s Hospital in Chichester this morning.

The ribbon was cut by a long-term patient of St Richard's Hospital, Julian Parfitt, from Selsey who was bitten by a rare beetle in Tokyo back in 1999.

The University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust says the new facility will deliver faster diagnosis, reduce overnight stays, and improve the overall patient experience.

Julian Parfitt explains what happend to him all those years in Tokyo and how events change his life forever: "Back in 1999 I was visiting Japan on one of my many business trips to the country, and on my final day in Tokyo I was bitten on the leg by some kind of insect which made a large hole – it is believed it may have been a kind of Japanese beetle - little was I to know at the time, the impact this would have on my life. Not thinking too much about it I flew home, spent an evening at the theatre with my wife and next day awoke thinking I was unusually jet lagged. Realising my leg was red and swelling I visited the GP who immediately diagnosed cellulitis and sent me to hospital where I spent 10 days on IV antibiotics battling the infection. Despite treatment the cellulitis kept returning with increasing frequency and after a few years was accompanied by growing lymphoedema and increasingly poor mobility until I was being hospitalised on a regular basis for Intravenous antibiotic and diuretic treatment. The increasing bouts of infection were becoming more serious with several turning to Sepsis and with increasing massive localised lymphoedema restricting my mobility.

"The Team at St Richards have literally saved my life on a number of occasions in recent years with their fast treatment, in conjunction with fast response and support from the Selsey Medical Centre and the Selsey first responder teams where I live.

"When Sepsis strikes it is very fast, you can be fine one moment and in serious trouble 30 minutes later. The team are very aware of the need for speed and the SDEC allows very fast access to acute healthcare, providing tests, scans where necessary and targeted treatments all in the space of one day in order to stabilise and recover the situation.

"The treatment for my condition has been intensive courses of different combinations of intravenous antibiotics and diuretics lasting typically 10 to 14 days (The longest has been nearly two month). This is where the NHS and St Richard's Staff and the SDEC have been so helpful – after initial stabilisation of each event, the SDEC allowed me to complete the treatment from home by visiting the SDEC for a short time each day to receive the IV course.

"Being able to recover at home whilst undergoing treatment is a huge benefit. Apart from being in the comfort of your own home, the unit saves you from interminably long stays in hospital and frees up much needed bed space for other patients in need.

"The SDEC has benefitted me personally by allowing me to be treated whilst still being with my loved ones at home. In the course of the past few years, whilst under treatment by the St Richard’s Team, I have been able to attend a family wedding, celebrate a wedding anniversary and a number of Christmas and Easter holidays at home and importantly continue to be able to work from home and maintain my career, all whilst under treatment that would previously have required extended hospital stays.

"Having spent a lot of time here on the emergency floor and SDEC at St Richards over the past few years, I have observed an incredibly cohesive, compassionate, smart, focused and experienced team of staff providing first class care for patients. The staff were not only Hero’s during the challenging days of the pandemic, but they are also the quiet Heros continuing to provide dedicated care and making a real difference to people’s lives every single day.

"In short, despite, having a debilitating condition, the wonderful Team at St Richards SDEC have made it possible for me live as normal a life as possible – for that I am eternally grateful.

"The investment that the Trust has put into this facility we are opening today is life changing for many people and I would like to thank the Trust, St Richards and especially the SDEC Team on behalf of all past, existing and future patients for the unstinting work in improving the quality of life for all."