Patients in Winchester are set to benefit from improved treatment thanks to a new estate development at Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
Supporting more timely patient care, the new surgical assessment unit will treat people who have either received a referral from their GP or who have been deemed suitable by local the healthcare workforce.
With patient flow and bed-blocking prominent issues across the health sector at the moment, Hampshire Hospitals hope the streamlined pathway to specialist treatment and guidance can reduce the amount of people waiting in the emergency department.
Hampshire Hospitals’ Chief Executive, Alex Whitfield, said: “The Surgical Assessment Unit is all about providing patients with access to many of the services available to patients on hospital wards, such as assessment by senior staff and diagnostic scans, without needing to be admitted to the wards.
“We have tested this model at our hospital in Basingstoke, where it has made a big difference in reducing overnight admissions whilst ensuring patients get the investigations and care they need. It is great to be able to provide this service in Winchester as well.”
MP for Winchester, Steve Brine, added: “I am delighted to be able to open the new Surgical Assessment Unit at the Royal Hampshire County Hospital. This new unit is part of an on-going programme of investment at Royal Hampshire County Hospital and shows how staff here in Winchester are continuing to innovate to care for those in their care.
“The surgical assessment unit will have an immediate and positive impact on patients as they will be able to access the care they need more quickly before being able to go home to their loved ones.”
To stimulate sector-wide discussion, National Health Executive recently launched its inaugural Industry Leaders’ Report – a dossier compiling the insight and analysis of leaders across the healthcare industry on one single topic.
The first release includes the exclusive commentary of healthcare heavyweights from The King’s Fund, The Health Foundation, Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Integrated Care Board and Accurx on the topic of patient flow.
