Laparoscopic capabilities enhanced at Ayr hospital

Surgeons at University Hospital Ayr in south-west Scotland undertaking a wide range of laparoscopic surgery, but with a particular focus on bariatric procedures, can now operate with much enhanced visibility – greatly improving efficiency, safety, and turnaround, and stream live images of surgery for training both within the hospital and to locations worldwide, following the installation there of Scotland’s first Olympus Medical Systems Endoalpha 4K integrated operating theatre. Reckoned by the medical technology specialist to be the UK’s most advanced such facility, the theatre was completed in just nine weeks – in a turnkey project which saw Olympus Medical deliver elements including initial planning, room design, construction, and sourcing and integration of third-party products. HEJ editor, Jonathan Baillie, attended the opening.

University Hospital Ayr, on the southern outskirts of Ayr, is a district general hospital operated by Scottish Health Board, NHS Ayrshire & Arran, that provides inpatient, day case, and outpatient medical and surgical services to a population of around 376,000. It houses the Emergency Department (ED) for South Ayrshire, and provides a number of Ayrshire-wide services – including vascular surgery, ophthalmology, urology, and audiology.

The seeds for a new integrated laparoscopic operating theatre to complement the hospital’s five general surgical and four day case theatres were sown about three years ago. The goal was to provide a fully integrated 4K theatre equipped to enable surgeons to undertake a greater range and volume of bariatric surgery in a purpose-designed environment, using equipment that would provide optimal visibility of the surgical field and precise control of all components. A second key objective was to enhance the Health Board and hospital’s ability to undertake laparoscopic surgery training, both on site, and via video and audio links to other locations in Scotland, as well as further afield. Refurbishing and fitting out the integrated theatre cost £740,000, with the cost borne by the Ayrshire and Arran Health Board Charity Fund (also known as ‘the Endowment Funds’)