Day patient unit helping to clear surgery backlog

Thursday 03 March 2022

The day patient unit at the Princess Elizabeth Hospital is extending its opening hours to help reduce waiting times for surgery.

The island's Medical Director, Dr Peter Rabey, said the extended opening hours would not have any negative effects on patients' care.

“Extending the opening hours will allow patients having larger surgeries to be seen as day patients rather than having to stay overnight in hospital,” said Dr Rabey.

“There are many advantages to having surgery as a day patient. It won’t affect the care the patient receives in any way, but will allow more patients to be seen.

“Even if patients are required to stay in hospital until 21:00, we have seen that many would much rather do that to be able to be back home by the end of the day.”

Other new measures being considered to cut down waiting lists include ring-fencing hospital beds for orthopaedic surgery patients.

Pictured: It is hoped that nine beds will be ring-fenced for orthopaedic surgery patients.

Dr Rabey said that the waiting list for orthopaedic surgery was longer than for other types of surgery. 

“The longest waits are for bone and joint surgeries.

"We are looking into hopefully ring-fencing a nine-bed unit for orthopaedic surgery only. 

“We have fantastic surgeons who, if given a clear run, will be able to clear the backlog. We have seen it done before. We just need to provide them with the resources to do the job.”