Three new operating theatres are on target to open this summer at Addenbrooke's Hospital to help cut waiting lists for routine orthopaedic operations – such as knee and hip replacements - and create a new surgical centre of excellence.
Construction work on the site started last year and is progressing well, alongside a large recruitment drive for staff.
The new theatres at Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (CUH) are being built on a site opposite the Rosie Hospital, next to P and Q wards which were opened in Oct 2021.
These wards will provide 40 dedicated surgical beds for patients undergoing planned orthopaedic surgery.
The site will treat long waiting patients and develop in to centre of excellence for musculoskeletal problems.
Once completed, the site will become the Cambridge Movement Surgical Hub and increase orthopaedic capacity at CUH by 20%, carrying out around 2,700 procedures a year.
Being separate from the main hospital and emergency services, the new hub will be able to focus on specially designed care for patients, helping to deliver many more operations, whilst reducing the length of time patients’ stay in hospital.
This new surgical hub is going to make a huge difference for many hundreds of patients who have already waited a long time for their surgery, often living in pain and struggling to stay active.
Professor Andrew McCaskie, orthopaedic surgeon at CUH
Andrew McCaskie, is a consultant orthopaedic surgeon at CUH, a professor of orthopaedic surgery at University of Cambridge and leading research and training for the new Cambridge Movement Surgical Hub. He said:
“The dedicated space and innovative care pathways within the Cambridge Movement Surgical Hub will make a huge difference for the many hundreds of patients who are waiting long periods of time for their surgery, often living in pain and struggling to stay active.
“In addition, the hub will help those with bone and joint disease more widely, by greatly facilitating our research and innovation into current and future treatments.”
Mr Fred Robinson, consultant orthopaedic surgeon at CUH and clinical lead for the Cambridge Movement Surgical Hub said:
"It is very exciting to have the prospect of treating our patients in Cambridge in the way they deserve; without delay. The Cambridge Movement Surgical Hub at Addenbrooke’s will be a centre of excellence and also allow research and innovation.
“It will not only allow us to reconstruct the long term effects of trauma but also allow us to restore mobility and function to those with arthritis and musculoskeletal disease.”
Dr Ewen Cameron, director of improvements and transformation at CUH said:
“Bringing together skills and expertise of staff under one roof will not only reduce waiting lists for orthopaedic patients, it also means we can free up space in the main hospital so other patients, needing other types of treatment or emergency care can benefit, cutting waiting times for them too.”
With cutting-edge innovation and the dedication of staff, the NHS is working hard to ease current healthcare pressures and bring down waiting times for patients.
Dr Eddie Morris, medical director for the NHS in the east of England
The new surgical hub is part of a national scheme to deliver more than 50 new surgical hubs across England, providing a total of around 100 more operating theatres and 1,000 more beds.
In total it is estimated the new hubs will deliver almost two million extra routine operations to reduce waiting lists over the next three years, backed by £1.5 billion in government funding.
Dr Eddie Morris, medical director for the NHS in the east of England, said:
“The development of surgical hubs around the eastern region are an important part of plans to tackle the waiting lists which built-up during the Covid-19 pandemic.
"Building a new hub for orthopaedic procedures and expanding Addenbrooke’s surgical capacity will enable patients in the Cambridgeshire area and beyond to access expert care faster.”
A large recruitment drive is underway with opportunities in a number of different roles, including theatre staff, registered nurses, newly qualified nurses and occupational therapists.
Staff working in the Cambridge Movement Surgical Hub will have an opportunity to develop their skills and knowledge through working alongside specialist nursing and therapy teams, delivering life changing treatment for patients.
To find out more about these new roles please join us for our webinar (opens in a new tab) on 13th February 2023 at 12:30pm-13:30pm or visit our recruitment website.
For further queries please contact Recruitment Services on 01223 217038.