Hospital opens £9.8m day-case surgery unit

UHNM chief executive Dr Simon Constable said the day-case unit would offer patients quicker access to surgery

A new £9.8m unit for day cases has officially opened at a hospital in Staffordshire.

University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust (UHNM) launched the unit at County Hospital in Stafford to tackle waiting list backlogs.

Bosses said it would offer thousands of patients quicker access to day-case surgery.

The unit has a dedicated space for patients who need colorectal, upper gastroenterology, orthopaedic or ear, nose and throat surgery, freeing up more space in main theatres.

It follows the recent opening of the Staffordshire Treatment Suite and North Midlands Hand Centre, also both based at County Hospital.

The hubs are part of NHS bosses' plans to increase surgical capacity and offer quicker access to some of the most common procedures.

Stafford MP Leigh Ingham cut the ribbon on the new unit on Friday

Bosses said the day-case unit was the latest stage in turning the hospital into an "elective-hub" for patients to be seen quicker at the site most suited to their needs.

The unit has almost doubled capacity from the existing 15 beds on Ward 8 to 28.

"By further improving and extending our surgical facilities at County Hospital, we will be able to offer thousands of patients each year with quicker access to day-case surgery, helping to improve their quality of life whilst reducing waiting lists," said UHNM chief executive Dr Simon Constable.