In May 2023, GIRFT launched an extensive online toolkit to support the development of elective surgical hubs and help hospital trusts establish sites specifically for planned operations and procedures.

The toolkit guides NHS colleagues through the detailed processes of setting up and running an effective surgical hub, supporting the key NHS priority to tackle waiting times and ensure patients have timely access to the surgery they need.

GIRFT worked closely with the team at the South West London Elective Orthopaedic Centre (SWLEOC) to develop the resource, outlining the ‘must-do’ critical steps of running a hub, as well as sharing some of the challenges SWLEOC has faced – enabling those building a service from scratch or expanding an existing hub to avoid potential pitfalls.

In capturing SWLEOC’s learning and resources, the new toolkit enables other trust teams to follow their lead without the need for an on-site visit.

The comprehensive content drills down into SWLEOC’s specific working practices and experiences spanning all stages of the patient pathway – from referrals to post-operative review and discharge. It also focuses in detail on operational considerations such as staffing, IT and estate, and offers supporting resources such as standard operating procedures (SOPs), service level agreements (SLAs) and other business-critical information.

The toolkit is supported by an elective surgical hub forum, where users can share information and have conversations to support implementation.

Take a look at the toolkit >