Opening hours
Monday to Friday between 8:30am and 5:00pm
Patient quote
Send us your comments"To Yvonne and staff. Thank you so much for your help and kindness over the past few months. I could go on but if Newcastle had a team like yours they would be top of the league!". Mr DF
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Care of the Elderly
Melville Day Unit
Contact: (0191) 213 7109 - Reception
The Melville Day Unit provides two main services:
The Day Hospital provides a flexible service for older adults in a friendly, calming environment. Its purpose is to evaluate complex medical and physical conditions where several treatments may be required. The goal of the day hospital is to prevent hospital admission, by treating you as an outpatient.
Patients attend from their own home following referral from their GP or another health care professional, such as a physiotherapist. GPs can request a rapid response assessment within 72 hours. Your first appointment is made by a phone call from one of our nurses.
Depending on your specific needs you may be required to stay most of the day to complete all the assessments. In this case lunch is provided.
Ambulance transport to the unit is provided, with collection between 8.30 and 10.30am. You should be back home between 2.30 and 4pm. If you are making your own way to the hospital, please arrive between 9.30 and 10am.
Outpatient Clinic referrals are made by your GP for most general medical conditions, particularly complex disorders affecting older people.
How to find us
The Melville Day Unit is based at the Freeman Hospital, adjacent to the Disablement Services Centre. To find us:
- Come through the main entrance of the Freeman Hospital grounds and you will see the unit on your left hand side.
- Entry is through the double glass doors at the head of the ambulance and staff parking area.
- If you are visiting, please park in the Pay and Display parking area on your right hand side.
Staff you are likely to meet
Our on site multidisciplinary team consists of Doctors, Nurses, Physiotherapists, Occupational Therapists and Admin support staff. Melville also has direct access to appropriate services within the Trust and the community.
Things you need to know
- Please bring an up-to-date medication list (or the medication itself if that’s easier).
- A Staff Nurse will be assigned to look after you personally, from your first arrival at the Unit through to any subsequent visits. Please feel free to contact her at any time if you have any concerns.
- You will have an initial consultation with one of our doctors to discuss your current medical and physical complaints and decide with you what the appropriate course of action at the Melville should be. This might include: a review of your medication; further investigations (eg blood tests, X-Ray, etc.); physiotherapy assessment or rehabilitation.
- Some patients may need to attend for a few weeks on a weekly basis for ongoing treatment and to evaluate changes in treatment following test results.
