Reviewed on : 18 Mar 2026

Reviewed by : Aimee Erinkitola

Expires : 18 Mar 2028

Surgical Assessment Unit (SAU)

SAU hours of availability: 10:00 – 18:00 Monday to Friday

Outside these hours call 02476965762 to speak with a member of the Surgical ACP Team

Location:

Ward 12, First Floor East Wing University Hospital Coventry

Surgical Referral:

SAU currently accepts surgical patients that need to be seen by the following specialities:

• General Surgery
• Ear, Nose and Throat – ENT currently take their own referrals – Please bleep #2436
• Maxillo-Facial
• Vascular
• Urology

There is now a GP Liaison Service established within SAU to provide a direct point of contact for GPs and other healthcare professionals so that surgical referrals can be taken and if emergency admission is not needed then to offer support on the most appropriate pathway for the patient

ENT now take their own referral via bleep 2436 – for all other specialities please continue to contact GP Liaison Nurse – Surgery

The GP Liaison Nurse can provide support in booking patients into hot clinics as well as assisting with any queries

Surgical GP liaison GP Contact only:

• Aimee Erinkitola – Surgical GP Liaison Nurse
• Telephone: 02476965762 (GP & Health Professional use only)
• Jabba phone: 41390 via switchboard
• Bleep – 5910
• Email: gpliaisonsurgery@uhcw.nhs.uk

When sending patients into SAU please ensure that they have a GP letter stating their presenting complaint, past medical history and drug history (including any allergies)

Please also ensure that patients are kept nil by mouth

Please note that SAU has limited capacity for referrals and patients may be seen in A&E at certain times

Assessment

Please assess patient suitability for referral to SAU (versus ED) by consideration of of the secondary care validated NEWS scoring tool or primary care assessment of patient condition

SAU: Clinically stable   NEWS <5

ED: Clinically unstable NEWS >5 (Ambulance) Typically severe sepsis, hypotensive, tachypnoeic, hypoxic, tachycardic

• SAU Referral Criteria