We thank van Galen et al. for their review of acute medical units (AMUs) [1]. The evidence presented matches our tacit experience, namely a successful model of care when measured against hard outcomes, such as length of stay, readmission rates, mortality rates and satisfaction. We agree that the best AMU solution is not yet clear. In our experience, the heterogeneity in AMUs has arisen for a multitude of reasons, often based on local service requirements and resources. Although there is variation in the implementation of AMUs in clinical practice, we strongly recommend the Royal College of Physicians of London report, ‘The right person, in the right setting — first time’, as a basic template for those wishing to develop their acute medicine service [2].
