Four more elective surgical hubs have been awarded accreditation as part of a GIRFT scheme to ensure the highest standards in clinical and operational practice.
The hubs, which exclusively perform planned surgery, bring together the skills and expertise of staff under one roof, with protected facilities and theatres. They are helping to deliver shorter waits for surgery.
Hub beds are designated for patients waiting for planned surgical procedures, and are protected from emergency admissions, reducing the risk of short-notice cancellations.
The four newly accredited hubs are:
- Kidderminster Treatment Centre (adding paediatrics to the adult accreditation previously achieved) – Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust.
- North West London Elective Orthopaedic Centre (NWLEOC) – London North West University Healthcare NHS Trust.
- Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre – Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
- Evelina Day Surgery Unit, St Thomas’ Hospital – Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust.
There are currently 110 hubs in operation across the NHS in England. The GIRFT programme has accredited 43 hubs since the scheme began in March 2023 and plans to accredit all hubs over the coming 18 months.
The accreditation scheme, run in collaboration with the Royal College of Surgeons of England and supported by the Royal College of Anaesthetists, assesses hubs against a framework of standards to help them deliver faster access to some of the most common surgical procedures, such as cataract surgeries and hip replacements. It also seeks to assure patients about the high standards of clinical care provided by the hubs.
Accreditation is not mandatory but offers hubs external recognition that they work to a defined set of clinical and operational standards. The scheme is being rolled out nationally, with quarterly cohorts to accredit all hubs over the next two years.
Surgical hubs, which are separated from emergency services, are part of plans nationally to increase capacity for elective care with more dedicated operating theatres and beds.
“GIRFT’s focus is on developing surgical hubs with the aim of improving patient flow so that patients have shorter waits for surgery, will be more likely to be able to go home on the same day, and have a better patient experience. We want to provide the assurance for patients and staff that these sites are delivering safe and high-quality care now and will continue to accelerate their progress and productivity in the future.”
