Mr Anthony Shaw, 76, from Mirfield, has praised the care he received at Pontefract Hospital after becoming the 300th patient to successfully undergo day case joint replacement surgery there, in this case on his knee. The milestone signifies a successful pathway that allows more patients to recover at home on the same day as their operation.
The hospital's orthopaedic surgical hub was awarded national NHS England Getting It Right First Time (GIRFT) accreditation in June this year for its high-quality clinical care and operational standards. Following this, the GIRFT team recommended increasing the number of day case arthroplasty patients treated, leading to the introduction of this programme.
Patients utilising the programme have reported excellent outcomes and high satisfaction levels, with very low rates of complications and readmissions. The team aims to extend this same-day approach to more suitable orthopaedic surgery patients.
“"After worrying about having the operation, I couldn’t believe how well everything went. I arrived at 7am and was home just after 5pm the same day. All the staff were wonderful and couldn’t do enough for me. As the numbness wore off, my leg felt so good I could have danced. I kept up my exercises and, four weeks later, started cycling every day. My leg is now functioning well. I would like to say a massive thank you to all the staff and to the NHS in general."
David Metcalfe, Senior Physiotherapist and part of the care team, stated: “Celebrating our 300th patient is a fantastic achievement. The pathway is safe and effective, and strong teamwork at every stage helps patients enjoy the best possible experience, outcome and return home.”
He added: “The achievement was made possible by colleagues across the patient journey, including orthopaedic surgeons, anaesthetists, the pre-assessment and waiting list teams, advanced clinical practitioners, therapy colleagues, nursing staff, the arthroplasty team and nursing management team. Together, they are helping more patients receive high-quality care and recover sooner at home.”
