The Mexborough Elective Orthopaedic Centre of Excellence at Montagu Hospital has been awarded national accreditation, recognising the centre’s high standards of clinical care and operational performance.
The accreditation confirms MEOC’s role as a leading elective orthopaedic surgical hub, supporting faster access to planned surgery for patients across South Yorkshire.
MEOC is a joint initiative between Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Barnsley Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, and the Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust.
By working together, the three organisations have created a dedicated orthopaedic centre designed to increase elective capacity, reduce waiting times, and improve patient choice across the region.
The accreditation was awarded through a national quality assessment scheme led by NHS England’s Getting It Right First Time programme, in partnership with the Royal College of Surgeons of England and supported by the Royal College of Anaesthetists.
The scheme assesses surgical hubs against a national framework focused on:
- Faster access to high‑volume planned procedures
- Consistent, high‑quality clinical standards
- Safe, efficient, and patient‑centred care
Out of 126 surgical hubs currently operating across England, only 69 have been accredited to date, placing MEOC among a select group of nationally recognised centres.
The £14.9 million centre was completed in December 2023 and welcomed its first patients in January 2024.
MEOC provides a dedicated environment for a wide range of orthopaedic procedures, including hip and knee replacements, surgery for the hand, wrist, foot, and ankle, as well as procedures involving the arm and shoulder.
Patients from all three partner trusts can choose to have their planned surgery at MEOC or at their local hospital, increasing flexibility and helping to balance demand across the system.
Located at Montagu Hospital in Mexborough, MEOC operates as a ‘cold site,’ meaning it does not provide emergency care.
This model allows:
- Surgical beds, theatres, and staff to be protected from emergency pressures
- Fewer short‑notice cancellations
- Improved patient flow and reliability of surgery dates
By separating planned surgery from urgent and emergency activity, the centre creates a more predictable and efficient surgical pathway for patients.
Elective surgical hubs like MEOC play a central role in national NHS plans to increase elective care capacity.
By focusing exclusively on planned operations, these centres:
- Make more efficient use of operating theatres
- Increase the number of procedures delivered
- Support shorter waiting times for patients needing surgery
The accreditation of MEOC highlights the success of this approach in delivering safe, high‑quality orthopaedic care at scale.
NHS England’s National Director for Clinical Improvement and Elective Recovery, Professor Tim Briggs, commented:
“We have been impressed with the professionalism and enthusiasm of the hub teams who are delivering outstanding care.
“All of the sites we accredited are focused on delivering safe and high-quality care, and an excellent patient experience. GIRFT’s focus is on developing surgical hubs with the aim of improving patient flow so that patients have shorter waits for surgery and, for some procedures, will be more likely to be able to go home on the same day.”
With national accreditation secured, the Mexborough Elective Orthopaedic Centre of Excellence is well placed to continue improving access to planned orthopaedic surgery and delivering high‑quality outcomes for patients across South Yorkshire.
Image credit: iStock
