December 7, 2011 12.00 pm This story is over 146 months old

New surgical unit to open at Lincoln County Hospital

New unit: Around £500,000 will be spent on the new surgical day unit in order to reduce waiting times for patients.

A new surgical day unit is set to open in spring 2012 at Lincoln County Hospital, with the aim to reduce waiting times for day case patients.

Situated on level one of the maternity, the new surgical day unit will have 24 trolley spaces divided into four-bedded single sex areas and single rooms.

Around £500,000 will be spent on the new unit and the further upgrade of maternity services in the same building.

This includes developing a second theatre on the central delivery suite to support emergency caesarean sections and the city’s rising birth rate.

Externally there will be new signage, a pick-up and drop-off point outside the unit and improved walkways for pedestrians and wheelchairs.

The new surgical day unit is part of United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust’s Transformation Programme that looks to improve hospital services.

Heather Carter, Associate Director of Transformation, said: “Currently surgical day case patients are treated in theatres across the hospital depending on theatre availability and the nature of their operation.

“Lincoln County Hospital currently sees about 350 day case patients each month – this figure could be doubled when we have the dedicated day surgery unit in place.

“The day unit will provide two sessions a day, one in the morning and one in the afternoon, Mondays to Fridays with some extended lists into the early evening.

“Before patients arrive for their surgery they will have a pre-operative assessment of their needs.

“At this appointment we will discuss the patients expectations and concerns, pre-operative preparation such as fasting, address any transport issues to get the patient to and from the hospital in a safe way as well as discussing any medication and care the patient will need before and after their treatment.”

Source: ULHT