Children on hospital waiting lists in South Cumbria are being offered day surgery in Chorley for the first time.
Youngsters needing certain procedures were previously treated at the Royal Preston Hospital but health bosses said despite growing waiting lists, it was not possible to increase the number of procedures there.
Instead, a surgical hub has been created at Chorley District General Hospital in Lancashire, which will be held every two weeks for specialities including dental and facial surgery, ophthalmology, plastic surgery and ear, nose and throat procedures.
Krishna Devarakonda, anaesthetic lead at Lancashire Teaching Hospitals, said: “This will allow significant improvement in the number of children on waiting lists in Lancashire and South Cumbria, and it’s thanks to the fantastic paediatric, anaesthetic and surgical teams for their hard work and dedication making this happen.”
Staff nurse Abigail Pemberton said: “We go along as a team to Chorley, the anaesthetists are all there, and it runs from 7am until closing.
“It’s like a pop-up children’s hospital. It’s a lovely spacious area there and we have a bay for each speciality, so that makes it easier for when the surgeons come as well, and it makes it flow a bit easier.
“It’s bringing the list down. Some of the children are missing school, important stages, so getting them in and getting things done makes life easier for everyone, the children, parents, teachers.”
