A new £9.1million theatre development at Ipswich Hospital has opened to patients today (Monday 29 July).
The surgical hub will be used for a wide variety of procedures, including general surgery, ENT (ear, nose and throat) cases, oral surgery and urology, many of which will be carried out as laparoscopic (keyhole) surgery.
Nick Hulme and consultant anaesthetists Paul Mallett and Aaron Pennell in a theatre
It has three specialist theatres, a recovery area and a post-operative care unit. It also has a same day admissions ward, which means as many procedures as possible can take place as day cases so that patients can return home more quickly.
The hub is directly above the new Urgent and Emergency Care Centre, which is currently being built at the south end of the Ipswich Hospital site. The theatres are linked to the main hospital building via the first-floor south corridor.
Senior nurse clinical lead Sarah Steadman in a theatre
Karen Lough is Director of Elective Care with East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust (ESNEFT), which runs the hospital.
She said: “We are delighted that this important new development is now open and welcoming patients.
“Many of the procedures carried out at the hub will take place as keyhole surgery, which is minimally invasive and means surgeons do not need to make large incisions in the skin. This is great for patients, as it leads to less pain and scarring and a quicker recovery.
“This type of surgery is also good news for the NHS as patients do not need to stay in hospital for as long, in turn allowing us to see and treat more people on our waiting lists.”
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