Construction of a new surgical centre of excellence in Cambridge is progressing well, as recruitment in anticipation of the estate’s summer opening ramps up.
The construction comes in the form of three new operating theatres at Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (CUH), which the trust say will provide an additional 40 surgical beds for those undergoing planned orthopaedic surgery, before eventually developing into a centre of excellence for musculoskeletal issues.
Upon the project’s completion, the site will become the Cambridge Movement Surgical Hub, ultimately enhancing the trust orthopaedic capabilities by 20% with leaders estimating the hub will carry out around 2,700 procedures every year.
The new hub will function as a separate entity to the trust’s Addenbrooke Hospital and emergency services, instead focusing on reducing patient waiting times, delivering more operations, and tailored care.
Andrew McCaskie, a Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon at CUH, 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.”
The surgical hub comes as part of a wider national scheme that is looking to deliver more than 50 of these new estates across England, creating 1,000 more beds in approximately 100 more operating theatres.
Backed by £1.5bn of government funding, health leaders estimate the new hubs will deliver nearly two million extra operations and contribute to reduced waiting lists over the course of the next three years.
Speaking more on Cambridge’s new hub, its Clinical Lead and another CUH Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon, Fred Robinson, explained: "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.”
CUH has also indicated it is in the midst of a large recruitment drive for the new hub, with theatre staff, nursing, and occupational therapy roles all being available. By working in the new surgical centre, clinicians will have an opportunity develop their skills, enrich their knowledge, and deliver life-changing treatments.
