Patients benefiting from surgical centre as report shows impact on waiting lists
Research from The Health Foundation shows the impact new surgical centres have had in their first year across the country, with the Cheshire and Merseyside Surgical Centre at Clatterbridge Hospital shown to be tackling waiting lists by delivering more operations in shorter times while improving patient care.
Meanwhile, the Cheshire and Merseyside Surgical Centre at Victoria Infirmary in Northwich, is due to open in 2025.
Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust’s Cheshire and Merseyside Surgical Centre at Clatterbridge Hospital treated 3,000 patients in its first year and has continued to support the Trust to tackle waiting lists in the years since.
In its first year, the centre’s two surgical theatres saw 1,500 urology patients, over 800 orthopaedics patients, over 350 general surgery cases, 150 gynaecological patients and 140 breast patients, opening a further two theatres in 2023 increasing its capacity to treat as many as 6,000 extra elective patients a year.
Over 5,000 patients have been treated at the centre since it opened, including with the brand new £2 million Da Vinci Xi robot, enabling more patients to be treated, including those with cancer. Fully under the control of the surgeon at all times, the robot exhibits impressive dexterity and precision while being minimally invasive for the patients.
“The centre has made a huge difference to the thousands of patients who have been treated from across the region and we look forward to offering this fantastic service to even more of our patients.”
Even more patients across the region are set to benefit with the opening of the new Cheshire and Merseyside Surgical Centre at Victoria Infirmary in Northwich, which is on schedule to open in spring 2025.
The centre will provide state-of-the-art clinical areas to support patient care, securing local services for the community for the future.
These include two theatres covering ophthalmology, orthopaedics, pain, ear nose and throat (ENT), dermatology, and general surgery. There will also be a treatment room, recovery area and consulting rooms.
Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust aims to treat a large number of ‘high volume low complexity’ patients from across the region who require less complex operations and procedures. This will help reduce waiting times for patients, with an immediate focus on those who have been waiting 52-weeks for treatment.
Gemma Morgan-Lees, General Manager of the Victoria Infirmary, said:
“The establishment of the surgical centre at Victoria Infirmary is a key priority for the Trust, reflecting our dedication to enhancing healthcare services in our local communities.
“This development not only aims to improve access to high-quality surgical care but also reinforces our commitment to providing essential services within a convenient proximity to the patients we serve.
“By bringing such facilities closer to home, we hope to ensure that patients receive timely and efficient care, thereby improving their overall health outcomes and reinforcing their connection to the healthcare system.”
Professor Rowan Pritchard Jones, NHS Cheshire and Merseyside’s Medical Director, added
“Staff across the region are working tirelessly to tackle the backlog of patients waiting for care and I want to thank them for their commitment.
“By providing thousands of additional appointments, surgical hubs are ensuring even more of our residents have quicker access to the vital procedures they need when they need them. The addition of Cheshire and Merseyside Surgical Centre at the Victoria Infirmary is another exciting opportunity to treat even more patients more quickly, while improving their experience.”
