As the name suggests, this is a unit that has been designed for the efficient assessment, investigation and management of large numbers of patients referred to the inpatient services.

On arrival in hospital, following referral from your GP or an Accident and Medical Clinic, you will go directly to the APU.

The APU caters for both medical and surgical patients. The nurses are multiskilled to handle many different clinical situations. Your care in the    Unit willl be in the hands of the inpatient services and after treatment you will either be discharged or transferred to the inpatient wards if you need to stay a little longer.

If you require urgent treatment i.e. acute resuscitation, this will be done in the Emergency Department prior to your transfer either to the APU or the inpatient wards.

Expect a call to inpatient on-call service and notification of admission to the Admissions Team at ADHB with patient details, suspected diagnosis and 'team accepted by'. A written clinician referral should be faxed (Fax No: 307 2858) and / or accompany the patient.

PRIMARY OPTIONS OF ACUTE CARE
This service is available to all General Practitioners and patients in the Auckland District Health Board (ADHB) area.
There are corresponding services in Counties Manukau DHB and Waitemata DHB for patients who reside in those areas.
The purpose of Primary Options is to enable Primary Care teams to access new and existing community-based alternatives to acute hospital admission where these are clinically appropriate .
A range of community diagnostic, therapeutic and logistic services are provided at no cost (except the initial GP consultation) to the patient.
These include:
• diagnostic procedures, for example x-ray, ultrasound and laboratory blood tests
• GP and Practice Nurse home visiting
• follow-up and return visits to General Practice locations
• home nursing services, home help and equipment hire
• intravenous antibiotic therapy
• transport to and from Primary Care locations
• rest home care (dinner, bed and breakfast).

For further details on how to access these services please visit
www.primaryoptions.co.nz