In East Yorkshire, a new $10 million day surgery unit has opened, according to hospital administrators, reducing waiting times.
Ten operating rooms are available for procedures ranging from facial surgeries to neurosurgery at Castle Hill Hospital in Cottingham.
The goal, according to consultants, is to perform at least 80 operations each day.
The facility was "more than doubling existing capacity," according to Dave Wright, a consultant anesthetist at Hull University Teaching Hospitals Trust (HUTH).
Being at the forefront of developing a sizable center, in my opinion, is really exciting for Hull.
Day surgeries of this size are actually quite uncommon, so it would be fantastic for us to be able to offer that service to our neighborhood patients.
"When it's fully operational, I believe it will significantly help [address] the surgical backlog. ".
The facility will offer simple procedures like ear, nose, and throat surgeries as well as more complicated care like spinal surgery, joint replacements, and laser surgery.
The main operating rooms at Castle Hill and Hull Royal Infirmary will continue to perform urgent and acute surgery.
Hopefully, it will shorten waiting lists, which are currently a problem with the post-Covid recovery, said Jill Pawson, a nurse at the recently opened day surgery center.
"Since waiting lists have grown significantly, the patients will benefit greatly from having this additional day surgery capacity. ".
One of the first patients to have surgery at the new unit is Mike Shepherdson, 60, of North Frodingham, close to Driffield.
Following a motorcycle accident in August 2021, he sustained permanent injuries. Since then, he has had a number of operations, and in three weeks, he will have his last one.
My favorite. It's fantastic in every way. Wow, what a difference. I'm really impressed.
"I was taken aback by how quickly the surgery appointment arrived.
I haven't been waiting for months; I've only been waiting a few weeks. ".
