Home > Patients and visitors > Visiting and appointments > Our wards > Richmond Acute Medical Unit

Acute Medicine is the specialty concerned with the diagnosis, management and non-surgical treatment of unusual or serious disease.  Almost all acute medical inpatients at St George’s Hospital are admitted through the Richmond Acute Medical Unit (Richmond AMU).  Patients present either through direct referral from our Emergency Department, present directly to Same Day Emergency Care or from their General Practitioner (GP).  Patients spend the first 24 – 48 hours of their inpatient stay on the AMU whilst their clinical condition is stabilised, and urgent investigations and procedures are coordinated – following which they are either discharged to recuperate at home or transferred to another speciality medical ward for further inpatient care. Our Acute medical admission (AMU) serves as the main entry point for patients requiring emergency treatment, serving all levels of illness. AAU provides assessment and diagnosis by skilled specialists, aiming to reduce waiting times and commence treatment promptly.

Patients typically stay in the AAU for a short period of time, those needing longer care are transferred to established wards within the hospital. This approach helps patients move smoothly through the different stages of their care, from check-in to treatment, for better results.

The unit is equipped with diagnostic facilities, enabling swift investigations and treatments and a team of specialists work together to provide complete care.

AMU is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, so consultant cover 7 days a week and are always available

The Richmond AMU is based on the ground floor of St James Wing.  The specialty wards that we work most closely with include Allingham (gastroenterology), Amyand (acute senior health unit – ASHU), Marnham (Senior Health), and Caesar Hawkins ward (4th floor of Lanesborough Wing).  Each ward is staffed by dedicated multidisciplinary teams, serving primarily the local residents of Wandsworth, Merton and Lambeth.

The AMU has 51 inpatient beds, through which between 30-50 patients are admitted in each 24 hour period.  The unit is extremely busy as the vast majority of inpatient investigations are organised. Discharge coordination commences from the time of admission, through the engagement of our Social, Therapies and Rehabilitation (STAR) team.  To visitors, it can often appear hectic – but through carefully coordinated team-working and mutual respect, we manage to maintain a constant flow of patients through the hospital and back home where possible.  Every member of our team plays an important role in keeping our AMU working.

The Richmond AMU is divided into:

  • Medicine Same Day Emergency Care (SDEC)  –provides rapid same-day assessment, diagnostics, and treatment for acute medical illnesses as an outpatient service, helping patients avoid overnight hospital stays. Patients are referred by GPs, NHS 111, ambulances, or emergency departments rather than walking in directly. It also accommodates all clinics associated with the Acute Medical Unit (AMU), including the Acute Medical Clinic (AMC), Cellulitis and DVT Clinics, Diabetes Pitstop Clinic, Hypertension Clinic, Headache Clinic, Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) Clinic and Frequent Attenders Clinic. The unit has 16 dedicated spaces for patient consultations and assessments.Acute Dependency Unit (ADU) – a 15-bedded (including 5 side rooms) with a capacity of taking 4 Level 2 patient with 5 cardiac monitors area providing higher-dependency care for patients who are very unwell.
  • Richmond Main ward – 5 single-sex bays A-E, A bay has 8 beds with 2 side rooms and B bay to E has 7 beds with 2 side rooms each. side rooms – 36 beds total

You will be looked after by a multidisciplinary team of nurses, therapists and doctors who are highly experienced in caring for patients with acute medical conditions.

No children under 16 years old are allowed, except in special cases please contact the Matron or Ward Manager before visiting with young children.

Richmond AMU Contact numbers

Main ward reception: 020 8725 3143

Extension numbers:

  • Main ward nurses’ station: 3143 / 3299 / 3461
  • ADU: Annexe  -6082/6083
  • A Bay: 4295
  • B Bay: 4303
  • C Bay: 4306
  • D Bay: 4307
  • E Bay: 4297

AMU Virtual Clinic

Outstanding results following a patient admission to the Richmond AMU may be followed up in the innovative AMU Virtual Clinic, which is consultant-led and supported by a specialist registrar.  We strive to ensure a timely response to patient results – without the need for patients to attend an outpatient appointment.  A letter documenting the outcome of the virtual clinic is sent to both the GP and patient as a standard.

This clinic runs twice weekly from 09.00-12.30 on Tuesday and Thursday mornings.

Enquiries regarding the AMU virtual clinic (Tuesday and Thursday mornings) may be made through our AMU Secretaries, on 0208 266 6092.

AMU Secretaries Contact details

Phone: 0208 266 6092

 

Key Staff

 Consultant Clinicians

Social Therapies & Rehabilitation (STAR) Team lead

Ward links

Richmond AMU/MSDEC Location, Ground Floor, St James’ Wing, St George’s Hospital

Location

Ground floor, St James Wing, St George's Hospital

Key information

Visiting times: 9.00-20.00

Protected meal times: 1200-1300 & 1700-1800

Maximum number of visitors: 2

Children visitors are allowed

Matron: Helen Fikremariam

Matron: Rebecca Colao

Ward manager: Ian Clark

Sister in charge: Noel Wing Man Lui

Sister in charge: Annie Redwood

Sister in charge: Androniki Dantili

Sister in charge: Rachel Kasim

Sister in charge: Masline Tsuro

Sister in charge: Swapna Gaddam

Number of beds: 51

Pay as you go TV is available

Mobile and laptops are allowed

WiFi is available

Other facilities

Showers

Every bay has at least 1 or 2 Toilets for patients

Visitor Toilets are by the main entrance

Laptops and mobile phones may be brought into the ward but the Trust can not be held responsible for your belongings. We recommend leaving valuables at home.

s