Investigation Unit

The Programmed Investigation Unit (P.I.U.) of the Manchester Royal Infirmary is an inpatient department providing facilities for all tests used in medicine. There are two special features of the unit: the timing of the admission of patients to suit their convenience; and placing of the tests in a compatible rapid sequence, which is incorporated in a timetable agreed with the investigative departments. This is an alternative to the usual pattern of waiting-list management, in which the availability of beds is the sole determinant of the admission date. In this traditional pattern investigations are usually requested after admission, and sometmes their full compass or the main purpose may not be fully grasped by the house staff until the next formal ward round. The investigations are then subjected to delays because of poor communications within the hospital and of the difficulties in the departments themselves. For the "cold" medical case admitted for investigation and diagnosis, the actual time spent by the patient in active investigations is surprisingly short in relation to the total duration of hospital