A £15million operating theatre building has been opened at Torbay Hospital which will help reduce the time people are waiting for surgery.
The new building has two operating theatres and additional pre-operative assessment and recovery spaces. Over time this expansion will allow Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust to support 4,500 more people each year.
It is expected that one theatre will focus on breast and orthopaedic surgery, and this will help provide focus on day surgery hip, knee and shoulder replacements across the organisation. The other will be used by the eye surgery team.
Dr Theresa Hinde, Clinical Director of Day Surgery and Consultant Anaesthetist at Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust, said: “We are so proud of our local, national and even international reputation for excellence in day surgery that has grown over the past 30 years. Around 85% of surgery at Torbay Hospital is undertaken as a day case which we know has tremendous benefits for the people we care for, and we currently support around 12,000 people a year though the unit.
“I am excited to see the benefits of these new facilities for both the experience of our patients and the staff who work in them. The number of people we support will increase over time once the theatres become fully operational, which will help reduce waiting lists but more importantly help us treat local people sooner.”
The brand-new facilities provide a more comfortable space for people having an operation and will enhance the working environment for staff.
The ribbon was cut on Friday 09 February 2024 by Liz Davenport, Chief Executive, and Sir Richard Ibbotson, Chair at Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust.
Sir Richard Ibbotson said: “These new facilities will enhance the care our hardworking teams provide for local people, as well as improving the working environment which will only help us attract and keep a talented workforce here at Torbay and South Devon.”
“I would like to thank our capital development, operational and clinical colleagues who have all contributed to making this major project happen. Our contractors, including KTA, Bailey Partnership, Peninsula Projects, Nevada Construction and ModuleCo, have worked closely with our teams on this development on a rapid timescale.”
The funding was received from the national Targeted Investment Fund (TIF) which is supporting schemes across the country to provide additional elective care capacity, helping to reduce the backlog from the COVID-19 pandemic. The theatres at Torbay Hospital is the first TIF funded elective hub to open.
Jacqueline Coles, Head of Elective Care for NHS England South West, said: “I am delighted to see the two brand new theatres at Torbay District Hospital open today.
“The additional theatres mean more people, who require less complex surgery, will be seen and treated sooner than ever before. The theatres will also help to reduce the backlog of those patients with less urgent need as we continue to work together to improve people’s treatment, care and outcomes.”
The new theatre facilities mark the latest milestone in several developments at Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust, including the opening of a £2.8 million radiotherapy planning CT suite in October, a £5million endoscopy unit in November and the £15 million acute medical unit in December 2022, which are helping to deliver better health and care for people in Torbay and South Devon.
This forms part of Torbay and South Devon’s Building a Brighter Future (BBF) programme which is helping to improve people’s experiences and outcomes of care.
At the heart of the programme is the organisation’s inclusion in the government’s New Hospitals Programme, which is currently at business case stage. This will provide a once in a lifetime opportunity to make a difference to delivery of services and is scheduled to complete in 2030.
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