A new trial unit has begun operating in Brighton to help patients avoid lengthy delays in Accident and Emergency and ease bed shortages.

When Raymond Jordan woke in the middle of the night and tried to get out bed his left leg would not support him.

He then discovered his left arm also felt a little heavy.

The 86-year-old lay down and waited to see if the effects would pass and fell asleep again.

But in the morning he found he still could not move his leg properly.

Mr Jordan's GP from the Charter Medical Centre in Hove was called to examine him and decided Mr Jordan had probably suffered a mini stroke.

He was told he should be admitted to hospital so he could receive a full assessment.

Ordinarily, Mr Jordan would have been taken to either the accident and emergency department at Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton or the medical assessment unit there.

He would probably stay at the hospital for a day or two while all the tests were carried out and he was assessed by a physiotherapist and occupational therapist.

But Mr Jordan was not happy about the idea.

He said: "When it was suggested I go to hospital I did not want to go. I felt it was not reasonable for someone like me to go in an take up a bed that might be needed for someone who was more seriously ill when I knew I could recover well at home."

Instead, Mr Jordan was sent to the Briggs Day Hospital based at Brighton General where a pilot assessment unit has been running since shortly before Christmas.

The unit operates three days a week and works as a one-stop shop where a patient can be examined by a doctor and nursing staff and have any necessary blood pressure, blood tests or chest X-rays.

They are then assessed by a physiotherapist and occupational therapist to check how well they can get around or cope with everyday activities.

Any necessary further tests and appointments or meetings with social services can be arranged there and then before the patient is goes home the same day.

Mr Jordan said: "All the staff were excellent. They were able to sit down and fully explain all the tests and everything that was happening to me in great detail, which was very reassuring.

"There was a very calm and caring atmosphere and everything went very smoothly. It made all the difference."

The pilot unit is a joint scheme run by South Downs Health and Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals.

Only a very small number of GPs are taking part at the moment. Among them are those at the Charter medical centre where Mr Jordan is a patient.

If the service is successful then it is likely to be expanded to include other GPs. At the moment staff at the unit are dealing with three or four patients a week.

The aim is to provide an alternative for patients who do not need to be rushed to A&E but do have to be checked over and assessed after falling ill.

It means people, usually elderly, will not have to wait hours in A&E for assessment while staff deal with more critically ill patients.

Most have developed problems similar to Mr Jordan, had difficulties with mobility or have become confused.

Usually they would be sent to the Royal Sussex to be checked over but instead are able to have access to the services they need at the Briggs unit, leaving the hospital beds available.

Staff nurse Geraldine Lambert said: "The idea is to provide one location where a patient can go and where there is immediate access to any tests needed.

"At the moment things seem to be going very well and the feedback from patients has been very good.

"Patients often prefer to be at home and don't want to have to stay in a hospital so this gives them another choice.

"We have been told that some of the patients we saw would otherwise have been sent to the Royal Sussex so we know we are making a difference."

Senior physiotherapist Naomi Linberry said: "Because we are all here we are able to offer a more immediate holistic approach.

"We can respond immediately so things can be done much more quickly and we can get the ball rolling."

Senior occupational therapist Tina Kent said: "We are working as a team. We all know each other well and are able to liaise easily when discussing patients."

Hospital bosses stress the system will not suit all patients and they have to meet certain criteria before being sent to the unit.

The unit can only cope with a small number of patients at the moment.

But the pilot scheme is expected to be assessed in March to see how well it has been doing.