The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Plaudits for NHS Fife orthopaedic surgery team’s performance
health: ‘Punching above its weight’ in terms of surgical record
The performance of NHS Fife’s orthopaedic surgery team is second to only one other area in Scotland.
New statistics show the Fife board is among the top performing in Scotland for elective orthopaedic surgery.
Excluding the Golden Jubilee in Clydebank, which is almost exclusively a centre for procedures scheduled in advance, patients in Fife are the least likely in Scotland to have their surgery cancelled with less than six weeks’ notice.
Only patients using the services provided by NHS Highland are less likely than those in the kingdom to have their surgery cancelled within 24 hours.
The statistics also recognise Fife’s surgical theatres as the second most efficient in Scotland, with fewer early finishes, late starts and less turnover time between patients.
The news has been welcomed by consultant orthopaedic surgeon Mr Edward Dunstan, who is also the director of surgery for NHS Fife.
He said: “These figures show NHS Fife is really punching above its weight when it comes to surgical performance.
“Rescheduling an operation can be frustrating for patients and their families, and these statistics show Fife’s approach is reducing the likelihood of postponement or cancellation.”
Mr Dunstan said that by organising medical cover well in advance, ensuring pre-operation assessment is as effective as possible and setting up both a dedicated elective orthopaedic team and surgery at the Victoria Hospital, the team continued to improve the experiences of its patients.
This ensured they were among the most likely in Scotland to have access to care at the earliest opportunity.
Last year NHS Fife’s orthopaedic performance was commended by experts from across the UK. A delegation – including Dr Colin Howie, the president of the British Orthopaedic Association, and past president Professor Tim Briggs – visited Fife’s acute hospital, the Victoria in Kirkcaldy, in recognition of the health board’s good performance.