Chorley Hospital's catch-up surgery unit hailed for "excellent patient experience"

The so-called “surgical hub” is one of over a hundred similar centres nationwide that are helping to plough through the build-up of pre-planned operations that occurred as result of wholesale cancellations to routine surgery early in the pandemic.

It is hoped that the facilities will reduce waiting times for some of the most common procedures such as cataract surgery and hip replacements.

The idea hinges on the hubs being ringfenced from emergency and urgent care and so shielded from the pressure on those services - and the risk of it leading to short-notice cancellations of scheduled surgery.

Ophthalmology, gynaecology, ear nose and throat, urology, trauma and orthopaedics and general surgery are the main specialisms catered for at the units, which the government has described as delivering “high volume, low complexity" procedures.

The hub at Chorley - one of more than a dozen in operation across the North West - has now become the first in the region to be accredited under NHS England’s ‘Getting It Right First Time’ (GIRFT) programme. It was given the accolade as part of a pilot scheme developed to ensure that the highest standards of clinical and operational practice are maintained at the newly-created facilities.

The Euxton Lane site was one of 89 hubs to be assessed nationwide and only eight that there were subsequently recognised for adhering to a defined set of standards in five categories, covering: the patient pathway, staff and training, clinical governance and outcomes, facilities and ring-fencing and utilisation and productivity.

Kevin McGee, chief executive at Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (LTH), which runs Chorley Hospital, said of the accreditation: “It is fantastic to have an independent endorsement for what I know has been the case for some time now – that Chorley is a truly great place for patients across Lancashire and South Cumbria to receive their elective procedures. It provides state-of-the-art facilities as well as offering excellent care and I am very proud of all the colleagues who have made this happen.”

Although not mandatory, the aim is to roll out the accreditation process to all of the more than 140 hubs that either are - or will shortly be - in operation across the country.

Professor Tim Briggs, chair of GIRFT and NHS England’s national director for clinical improvement and elective recovery - who was part of the team that carried out the hub assessments - said that he and his colleagues had been “impressed with the professionalism and enthusiasm of the hub teams who are delivering outstanding care”.

“All of the sites we accredited are focused on providing an excellent patient experience and several are setting new standards with regards to day-case surgery and innovative models of care.

“GIRFT’s focus is on developing surgical hubs with the aim of improving patient flow so that patients have shorter waits for surgery, will be more likely to be able to go home on the same day, and have a better patient experience.

“We want to provide the assurance for patients and staff that these sites are delivering safe and high-quality care now and will continue to accelerate their progress and productivity in the future.”