April 30, 2012 8.00 am This story is over 143 months old

Lincoln hospital opens new surgical day unit

More theatres: A new hospital unit will reduces waiting times for surgery and free up main operating theatres.

Patients going into Lincoln County Hospital for day surgery will now benefit from a new unit with longer opening hours.

The unit will be located in the maternity building on level one, and aims to reduce waiting times.

It will feature two operating theatres, so more theatres in the main hospital can be freed up for emergency and planned work.

In addition to the theatres, there will be X-ray and other specialist equipment available, and room for 24 trolley spaces in four bedded bays and single rooms.

Only 1% of people using the unit will be requiring an overnight stay, as the unit is aiming at day procedures only.

Initially the unit will open Monday to Friday between 7am and 8pm, and then extended to 10pm on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.

This will allow for people being operated on until 7pm.

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 – and this figure could be more than doubled when we have the dedicated surgical day unit in place.

“The unit will be split into two separate sessions one in the morning and one in the afternoon.

“Prior to patients arriving for their surgery they will be given a thorough pre-assessment of their needs.

“We will discuss the patient’s expectations before, during and after the surgery to ensure that they can be discharged safely and know who to contact once discharged.”

The new day unit is part of a £1 million transformation programme by United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust.

The programme looks at ways services can be improved and managed efficiently.

So far, the project moved the women’s ward to level three and building another obstetric theatre.

The scheme will also spend money on improving signage and walkways around the hospital, redecoration of the entrance and a better pick up and drop off point.

Source: ULHT