Oswestry hospital 'will not be operations production line'
Oswestry orthopaedic hospital's operating theatres will not become 'production lines' as staff strive to treat more patients as day cases, bosses have been reassured. Oswestry orthopaedic hospital's operating theatres will not become 'production lines' as staff strive to treat more patients as day cases, bosses have been reassured. Day surgery is now the largest growth sector in the NHS and the hospital could lose out financially if it does not move towards more one-day surgeries, trust board members heard last week. But they were reassured that patient safety and excellent treatment would not be compromised as the hospital moved to increase how many patients it treated as day cases. Dr Sumeeta Conry, a consultant anaesthetist, said the hospital was increasing the level of day cases and it aimed to become a leading centre for the treatment. [24link] Full report in today's Shropshire Star
She said there was a 'natural migration' from inpatient care to day care surgery and NHS commissioners were purchasing more day surgeries.
Dr Conry warned the board members that if the hospital did not follow the shift, the hospital could suffer a financial impact.
Jo Bidmead, day surgery manager, said it was vital the hospital's excellent care and treatment of patients was sustained and improved despite the shift in how patients were treated.
She said: "From a nursing perspective we want to increase activity but don't want to be a production line.
"We want to be slick and have a set of procedures to follow. We are working very hard to make sure we are delivering excellent patient care."
She said audits were held to ensure patient care was not compromised by the speedier surgeries.
The board was told a recent audit on 50 shoulder surgery patients gave positive feedback on the day surgery system. The patients who were allowed home on the same day of surgery were telephoned by staff the following day to see how they were recovering.
The audit found 94 per cent of the patients said they would have their surgery as a day case if they had to have surgery again.
By Iain St John
