Practice Plus Group Hospital Ilford and the Barking, Havering & Redbridge University Hospital Trust (BHRUHT) have carried out 250 orthopaedic procedures in one week in a programme designed to reduce waiting times for orthopaedic surgery across the three London boroughs.
Nurul Ahad, medical director at PPG Hospital Ilford and the Group’s national orthopaedic lead, pictured, said: “This was an incredible collaboration over seven consecutive days, across several sites including four of the theatres at Ilford Hospital.
“As we all know lockdown has led to longer than usual waiting times for elective surgery, leaving many in considerable pain for prolonged periods. By opening up four of our operating theatres and by collaborating with BHRUHT, our teams have managed to lift 250 people out of pain, enabling them to go back to the jobs and the lives they love. Some of our patients include those working on the front line of care, and we know they are glad to be back and serving their communities.”
Operations carried out during the week – named Perfect Week – included 135 joint replacements of which 10 managed to successfully and safely return home on the same day. Professor Briggs from GIRFT had attended to give his own seal of approval and to encourage further collaboration with the sole focus on serving the local population.
More collaborations are expected between PPG Hospital Ilford and BHRUHT in the future to further support the patients within the London boroughs of Barking, Havering and Redbridge, and the six Practice Plus Group hospitals and three surgical centres nationwide are working hard to support the NHS and patients to tackle the issue of extended waiting times.