New operating theatres and shorter waiting times are on the horizon for patients from Hertfordshire and west Essex, with work in full swing for a new regional health facility in St Albans.
Demolition work started on 12 February to make way for three new operating theatres and a surgical procedure room at St Albans City Hospital, all due to open their doors this winter. Patients from across Hertfordshire and west Essex awaiting non-complex orthopaedic surgery, spinal injections, or ear, nose and throat (ENT) procedures will be invited to choose this new healthcare facility for their care.
An entire new block is being built next to the current theatre suite, where two of the theatres and the procedure room will be for patients whose care is provided by East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust, The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust, or West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust. West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust says that alongside shorter waiting times, ‘there will be an extremely low risk of cancellations or delays, because the schedules are not affected by emergency surgery’. Over 4,400 patients will be treated annually, with around half going home on the same day, and others staying for a maximum one night. Those requiring more specialised care will be seen at The Lister, The Princess Alexandra or Watford General. Patients who could be treated in St Albans, but would prefer to be seen at the hospital nearest to them, can choose to wait longer if they wish. Staff from all three of the hospital Trusts will work together to form a combined Theatre Team, bolstered by new recruits. Roles at the new ‘elective care hub’ are being advertised.
Michael Meredith, director of strategy and estates at The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust (pictured), who leads the project, said: “It’s fantastic to see the demolition start, as it takes us a step nearer to being able to run an efficient and professional surgical facility for patients across Hertfordshire and west Essex. By treating patients sooner, we can improve their experiences and outcomes. This is a real step-change in the way we provide care for our communities.”
