RJAH 41 06 Record number of patients at Shropshire’s specialist orthopaedic hospital

Shropshire’s specialist orthopaedic hospital has replaced 100 more hips and knees in the first three months of this year compared to the same period three years ago.

Five hundred and 49 patients received hip and knee operations at Oswestry’s Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt (RJAH) Orthopaedic and District Hospital NHS Trust in April, May and June this year compared to 444 in 2003.

The Trust has seen a steady increase in patients receiving joint replacements and revisions thanks to improved equipment and more efficient procedures.

Today Chris Evans, orthopaedic consultant surgeon, said: “The Trust is treating more people more quickly than ever before. Thanks to modern practices such as appropriate pre and post operative assessment, shorter operating times and an extremely low rate of post operative problems, such as infection, patients are able to return home much quicker, free from pain.”

The average length of stay in hospital for a patient receiving a new hip is about four days but in some cases patients have left RJAH within two days.

Employing measures such as starting a discharge plan on arrival, clear indications for all staff about when patients are due to go home and co-ordinating with families and carers to ensure arrangements are in place can all help reduce the length of stay for patients.

The Trust is also vigilant about infections and latest figures revealed no cases of MRSA during October 2005 and March this year. The figures released by the Health Protection Agency showed that no patients were identified with MRSA in the blood.

Mr Evans said: “All our patients are treated individually and are only allowed home when they are clinically ready. The quality care they receive here at the Trust together with the state of art facilities such as the unique theatre suite, which is the only one of its kind in the UK, has allowed us to free up capacity and time to deal with new patients coming in. This has improved services for patients but is also saving the Trust money.”

Ends

For further information please contact Vicki Baxter or Sarah Hooley at Bell Pottinger North on:
Tel: 01625 506444
E-mail: vbaxter@bellpottingernorth.co.uk or shooley@bellpottingernorth.co.uk
Notes to editors:
Number of hip and knee operations between April and June in 2003/04: 444
Number of hip and knee operations between April and June in 2004/05: 446
Number of hip and knee operations between April and June in 2005/06: 504
Number of hip and knee operations between April and June in 2006/07: 549