Cheshire and Merseyside Surgical Centre treats over 5,000 patients

The new Cheshire and Merseyside Surgical Centre at Clatterbridge has treated over 5,000 patients – cutting waiting times for those requiring planned surgery.

Patients in Wirral and across the region who require planned surgery are advised that they have the option to choose to have their procedure at Cheshire and Merseyside Surgical Centre which is run by Wirral University Teaching Hospital (WUTH).

At the point when they are being referred for surgery, patients simply need to speak to their GP and ask if they can have their elective surgery at the centre.

Hayley Kendall, Chief Operating Officer at Wirral University Teaching Hospital, said: “It is important that as a healthcare system we are offering patients a choice in where they can have their planned surgery. Our centre is open to patients across Cheshire and Merseyside and opting to have surgery at the centre can really help reduce the time they are waiting for their surgery. We would encourage patients to have a conversation with their GP at the point of referral and their GP will be able to talk through the options with them.”

The multi-million pound Cheshire and Merseyside Surgical Centre first opened in November 2022 as a regional surgical hub with two new state-of-the-art theatres as part of phase one. It opened phase two last year and now has four brand new theatres. The centre will enable the Trust to treat an extra 6,000 elective patients a year with the aim of cutting waiting times for patients across the region.

To support this aim, pathway optimisation has been undertaken to ensure that all patients undergoing elective joint replacement receive an enhanced prehabilitation and rehabilitation package. This includes consistent information delivered using a digital platform, same day mobilisation and seven-day physiotherapy and occupational therapy. The Trust also provides a Digitally Supported Arthroplasty Service, which provides patients with remote access to dedicated support before and after surgery and facilitates Patient Initiated Follow-Up (PIFU).

Cheshire and Merseyside Surgical Centre has already reached a milestone of 5,000 patients including those who have undergone urology, orthopaedic, gynaecological and breast surgery as well as general surgery. The centre is also equipped with a brand new £2 million Da Vinci robot, enabling more patients to be treated, including those with cancer. Fully under the control of the surgeon at all times, the robot exhibits impressive dexterity and precision while being minimally invasive for the patients.

The quality of the clinical and operational practice at the centre is of such a high standard that it was accredited last year by NHS England’s Getting It Right First Time (GIRFT) programme, in collaboration with the Royal College of Surgeons of England. This assesses surgical hubs against a framework of standards such as the delivery of fast access to some of the most common surgical procedures, such as hernia surgery and hip replacements.

Hayley Kendall, Chief Operating Officer at WUTH, added: “We are extremely proud of the very high standard of clinical care we provide at Cheshire and Merseyside Surgical Centre. It has already made a huge difference to over 5,000 patients who have been treated from across the region and we look forward to offering this fantastic service to even more of our patients.”

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Photo caption:

One of the theatres at Cheshire and Merseyside Surgical Centre at Clatterbridge.