New £10m Day Centre to address surgery backlog
‘THE STAFF HAVE BEEN BRILLIANT’: Patient Mike Shepardson outside the new centre
By Simon Bristow
A new £10m Day Surgery Centre has been opened at Castle Hill Hospital in Cottingham.
Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust said the state-of-the-art facility will support its elective recovery programme in addressing the challenges posed by the backlog of surgical cases resulting from the Covid-19 pandemic.
The centre will provide additional theatre capacity at for patients across Hull and the East Riding and beyond who need a planned – not urgent or acute – procedure. It includes pre-assessment facilities ensuring what is said would be a seamless transition for patients requiring day case surgery, reducing waiting times and improving overall patient experience from booking to recovery.
Dave Wright, consultant in anaesthetics said: “The opening of the Day Surgery Centre represents a momentous occasion for our trust and, more importantly, for our patients. These state-of-the-art theatres will provide us with the tools and resources needed to perform a wide range of day-case surgical procedures efficiently and effectively.
“Our dedicated team of highly skilled surgeons, anaesthetists, theatre practitioners, nurses, therapists and clinical administrators are excited to utilise this new facility to its full potential, ensuring our patients receive the best care possible.”
Trust chief executive Chris Long said: “We are thrilled to unveil the first phase of our Day Surgery Centre, representing a significant investment in the future of healthcare delivery.
“Our staff have been putting in relentless efforts to alleviate the strain caused by the surgical backlog, and the addition of these new theatres will play a crucial role in accelerating patient care and reducing waiting times. This development reflects our dedication to providing the highest standards of care for our patients.”
Former joiner Mike Shepardson, 60, is among the first to use the new facility, having attended a pre-assessment appointment ahead of surgery next month.
He says: “I was in a serious motorcycle accident in 2021 after which I had to be airlifted to hospital. I had lots of injuries including a broken spine, a punctured lung and 11 broken ribs. I’ve had many operations since then but this hopefully should be the last one; to take a metal plate out of my wrist which should hopefully give me a bit of mobility and less discomfort.
“The new facility is amazing, really beautiful and the staff have been brilliant. I can’t find fault in them.”