New ward opens to prepare more patients for surgery

Pre-operative assessments are needed before all planned surgery or procedures under general anaesthetic.

Up until now, the clinic has been based at the Day Surgery Unit (L2), but last week it moved to T2, a larger ward, newly built last year.

This frees up space for around 15 more patients to be treated at the Day Surgery Unit every day, including overnight stays.

It also means the pre-assessment clinic has room to expand its service and prepare more patients for surgery.

This will help reduce waiting lists for elective surgery that have built up during the pandemic.

The move to T2 means there are 10 pre-assessment clinic rooms seeing around 80 patients a day.

The ward also runs the twice weekly PRIME clinic which assesses and supports elderly patients with multiple conditions before surgery as well as Fit4Surgery virtual clinics.

Claire Luck, ward manager said:

“Many patients have been stuck inside for long periods of time because of the pandemic. If we can get them out and about for a daily 30 minute walk it will help improve their fitness level before they come in for their operation.

"If we can improve the health of patients before they come in and get them that little bit fitter, it means their stay in hospital and their patient journey is a lot easier for them.”

Operations manager, Graham Johnston said:

"Making sure our patients are fit and ready for surgery is vital if we're to maximise our operating capacity, avoid delays and cancellations and reduce waiting lists."

"We need patients to be in the best condition possible when they have their operation.

"This not only makes surgery safer, but speeds up a patient’s recovery, so they can be discharged sooner.”

T2 was first opened in June 2021 and is one of five new wards which will provide a total of 116 extra beds to the Addenbrooke’s site by the end of this year.

This includes P2 and Q2 which were opened in November 2021 to provide 36 beds to care for patients medically fit for discharge from hospital.

The last two wards with a total of 56 beds are being built on a site beside T2 and are due to open later this year.

These will include a basement level, linking up to the hospital’s underground corridor system, giving quick access to key departments across the Addenbrooke’s site.

Ewen Cameron, chief operating officer at Cambridge University Hospitals Trust (CUH), said:

"There has been no let up in the pressures the Trust has been under in the past 2 years with the pandemic, with extreme demand on our emergency services, routine care and surgery and the impact of the omicron variant.

"However, these new wards and the incredible effort of our staff has helped us keep the majority of our services on track this winter, and planned surgery has been broadly maintained.

"As we move forwards, maintaining and increasing the number of elective operations we carry out each week alongside treating emergency patients is a key priority. Too many of our patients have been waiting far too long for operations and we are determined to reduce waiting times and speed up our recovery from the Covid pandemic.”

More information on pre-op assessment

Before all planned operations or procedures under general anaesthetic patients must have completed a pre-operative assessment.

This happens around 2 weeks before surgery.

During this appointment a specially trained nurse, or health care assistant, reviews a patient's medical history, current medications, and provides pre-operative instructions.

The appointment involves:

• Taking an accurate and detailed past medical history.
• Recording current medication.
• Taking a height/weight and blood pressure measurement.
• If necessary, taking a blood test and/or heart tracing (ECG) and/or urine sample.
• Carrying out pre-operative skin swab to test if MRSA (Methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus) is present on the skin.
• Planning for what happens after your procedure.

Click here for a leaflet containing information about pre-op assessment.