Planned new facility will help increase number of surgeries by 4,000 a year

Surgery at North Middlesex University Hospital — *Surgery at North Mid (credit North Middlesex University Hospital NHS Trust)*

A new £6million day surgery unit (DSU) at North Middlesex University Hospital will help tackle the long backlog of patients waiting for surgery.

The NHS trust which runs the Edmonton hospital one of 50 to receive the funding for new hubs which will help treat an additional 4,000 patients every year once construction is completed in spring 2023.

The new hub will treat a mix of outpatient and admitted patients and will reduce waiting times for some of the most common procedures. It will focus mainly on providing high-volume, low-complexity surgery, as previously recommended by the Royal College of Surgeons of England, with particular emphasis on ophthalmology, general surgery, trauma and orthopaedics (including spinal surgery), gynaecology, ear nose and throat, and urology.

According to North Mid, such operations can be performed “quickly and effectively in one place, improving quality and efficiency” meaning patients have shorter waits for surgery, will be more likely to go home on the same day, and be less likely to need additional treatment after surgery.

Shola Adegoroye, chief operating officer at North Mid, said: “Making sure that local people are able to get surgery when they need it is incredibly important, so I’m thrilled we have secured this new investment.

“It will mark a step change in our efforts to reduce surgery waiting times and will help us deliver our vision of providing outstanding care for the people of Enfield, Haringey and beyond.”

Because the hub will be separated from emergency services, surgical beds will be kept free for patients waiting for planned operations, reducing the risk of short-notice cancellations and improving infection control.

Construction of the day surgery unit will commence in October and is due to be completed in around six months.

The waiting list at North Mid for all forms of treatment had 18,711 people on it as of the start of August this year. The waiting list for general surgery was 2,384.

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