Faster recovery from operations
Orthopaedic patients in the West will have the opportunity of a much faster recovery after their operations due to innovations by local doctors.
A hospital in Bath has become the first in the city to offer same-day hip and knee joint replacement surgery without the need for an overnight stay.
“Safety is always our number one priority,” said Joanna Gotley, physiotherapy lead at Sulis Hospital, “and by pre-assessing patients, carefully planning follow-ups and rehabilitation, we are able to offer same day surgical procedures which are proven to allow for a much quicker recovery.
“Each patient is assessed individually and, for most, this procedure will be the best and quickest method to allow a quicker recovery with each patient having a bespoke and tailored discharge plan put in place.”
In line with its mission to adapt, keep ahead of medical advancements and constantly improve its practices, Sulis Hospital has defined a medical pathway aimed at aiding overall recovery and reducing post-operative complications such as blood clots - thrombosis.
This “enhanced recovery programme” or “enhanced recovery after surgery” aims to help every patient recover from surgery more quickly and is based on NICE (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) guidelines.
Historically, patients who undergo knee or hip joint replacement surgery would spend an average of three days in hospital to recover.
Now, a team of experts at Sulis Hospital has been able to reduce this to an average of one day spent in hospital with many going home on the day of surgery.
Day surgery procedures are less invasive and more convenient. The patient can be at home in their own surroundings the same day, helping them back to their daily routine.
Patients who undergo same day surgical procedures will benefit from fewer complications, faster recovery and the reduced risk of blood clots.
So far, 44 patients have undergone day case joint replacement surgery within a three-month period, with an average of 0.96 days spent in hospital.