A new surgical hub at Whitehaven’s West Cumberland Hospital has gained national accreditation after demonstrating that it is on track to reduce waiting lists and reduce the time patients wait for surgery.
The hub is for planned operations and is separate from emergency theatres.
It keeps operating theatres free to carry out planned procedures such as hip and knee replacements, reducing cancellations, shortening waiting times and improving overall patient experience. The hub includes pre-operative assessment, operating theatres, recovery and the surgical ward.
NHS England’s Getting it Right First Time programme carried out an assessment of the hub in September. It has now announced that the accreditation has been awarded.
Dr Adrian Clements, executive medical director at North Cumbrian Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust, which runs the hospital, said: “This is a huge step forward for the hub and a testament to the hard work of our teams.
“While there is more to do in order to realise the full benefits of the hub, this accreditation proves we have the right facilities and the right people to deliver exceptional care for our patients.”
GIRFT chair Professor Tim Briggs, who visited the hub in September as part of the accreditation team, praised the facilities and staff.
He said: “Anyone would be happy to have surgery here. The facilities are fantastic, spotlessly clean, and run by dedicated staff. It would give any patient real confidence to see the work going on here.”
Stacey Eland, matron for general theatres, said: “This accreditation is a massive achievement for the department and we are excited to see where it will take us.
“We want to see more patients having surgery at West Cumberland Hospital; we really do have some fantastic facilities and a great team of people, from the admin staff who will greet the patients on their arrival right through to our recovery and physiotherapy teams. This is just the start for our hub!”
Trudie Davis, trust chief executive, added: “This accreditation opens doors for further recruitment opportunities to attract more staff to come and work with us.
It also enhances both patient and staff experience. It’s a great starting point and everyone involved should be extremely proud. The West Cumberland Hospital is a real asset to the community and this is another step in our plans to maximise the way we use our excellent facilities to meet the needs of our patients.”
