Treatment centre gains national recognition
The Sussex Orthopaedic Treatment Centre at Princess Royal Hospital has been named as one of eight elective surgical hubs in the country to receive national recognition for the care it provides to patients.
The centre, run by University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust – which also runs Worthing Hospital and St Richard’s Hospital in Chichester – provides planned surgery and rehabilitation and has a key role in how the NHS in Sussex is working to reduce the number of people waiting for care and help patients to get the operation or procedure they need as quickly as possible.
There are currently 89 surgical hubs across England, which are separated from emergency services and are helping to increase capacity for elective care and reduce the time people are waiting for care and treatment.
The centre in Haywards Heath has been awarded national accreditation as part of a pilot scheme to ensure the highest standards in clinical and operational practice. The scheme assesses surgical hubs on the way they work, and the clinical care offered to patients.
It brings together the skills and expertise of staff under one roof, with protected facilities and theatres, helping to deliver shorter waits for surgery.
The hub beds are designated for patients waiting for planned surgical procedures, and are protected from emergency admissions, reducing the risk of short-notice cancellations. Hubs taking part in the pilot were recently visited – including the Sussex Orthopaedic Treatment Centre – and this has resulted in this positive accreditation.