Ambulatory Emergency Care Clinic (AEC)

• Your clinical team have referred you to the Ambulatory Emergency Care Clinic (AEC). It is also known as Same Day Emergency Care (SDEC).
• All patients must be referred and accepted by one of the Ambulatory Care team, as we are not a walk-in service.
• We are based on level 2, next to the Emergency Department (ED).
• This consultant-led service provides quick access to your medical assessment, and any further tests or imaging (X-rays and various scans) you might need.
• The goal is to give the best medical care and only stay in hospital if it's really needed.
• A Consultant will review the referral made by the clinician who has treated you today.
• They will then contact you by telephone with a follow up plan. This may include:
  • Discharge from the clinic with a treatment plan.
  • A referral to a specialty team.
  • A face-to-face (in the clinic) or telephone appointment with the AEC clinic team.
• Before you leave the ED, please check with the reception team that the hospital has your correct phone number and the details of your emergency contact.
• We will aim to contact you the next working day after the referral is made, between 9am and 12pm (midday), Monday to Friday.
• If you have not received a call by midday, please contact us on 020 7288 5940.
• The hospital may call you from an unknown/private number.
• If we cannot reach you by phone, we will leave a voicemail, where possible.
• If we are still unable to reach you, a letter will be sent to you and your GP with details of the initial assessment and outcome.
• For any urgent medical concerns or questions, please contact your GP or go to the ED, which is open 24 hours a day.

Contact our service

You can call us on 020 7288 5940.

Document information

Date published: 22/08/2025 I Review date: 22/08/2027 I Ref: EIM/AmbCar/AEC/01 © Whittington Health NHS Trust. Please recycle.