In collaboration with HSE Acute Operations and the Healthcare Pricing Office, the NCPS launched the updated standards for Acute Surgical Assessment Units in Ireland on 28th June 2023 at the Healthcare Pricing Office’s annual Activity Based Funding Conference. The new update was coordinated by the ASAU Validation Review Board (VRB) and it supersedes the original edition, published in 2017.

Pictured from left to right at the ABF Conference in June 2023, Fiachra Cook (HPO), Ciara Hughes (NCPS), Emma Benton (HSE Acute Operations), Sharon Casey (NCPS), and Brian Donovan (HPO).

In order to ensure standardisation and to facilitate continued service and quality improvement, a review process of the standards was conducted, resulting in a number of key changes to the standards. This included how ASAUs are classified according to how long they have been in operation. For example, those in operation for less than two years are now termed ‘new’ whilst those in operation for two to four years are termed ‘evolving’ and those beyond four years are considered ‘mature’. There are different expectations for each of these classifications.

Governance is more clearly defined within the new standards, along with a separate section on staffing which outlines clearly the definition of ‘senior decision maker’. Other additions included ring-fenced trolleys for ASAU services, clarification of the use of the Manchester Triage Tool, the importance of emergency networked care and management of an ASAU in pandemic situations.

Professor Paul Ridgway, National Clinical Advisor in General Surgery, National Clinical Programme in Surgery, said: “The updated Acute Surgical Assessment Unit National Standards gives a clear roadmap to providing high quality acute surgical care in Ireland. The update is an evolution of the first standards, reflecting the growing knowledge base in Irish Surgery in how to provide safe, effective surgical care to our acutely unwell patients.”