TWO patients at Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust are celebrating successful knee replacements and going home on the very same day.
Chris Blackshaw and Karen Chapman were both back home within 12 hours of their procedures at the Alexandra Hospital in Redditch and Kidderminster Treatment Centre respectively – marking the first time the Trust has provided total joint replacements as day case procedures.
The same day treatment marks a new way of providing joint replacements at the Trust for patients who are fit and well enough, providing them with enhanced support for their recovery including post-operative physiotherapy almost immediately after they come out of the operating theatre.
This means that within around four hours of having their surgery they are able to walk on crutches and can be safely discharged to continue their recovery in the comfort of their own homes with ongoing support and advice available if they need it.
Dr Jo Marriott, the Trust’s Divisional Director of Specialised Clinical Services said: “To see so much hard work and planning by our teams pay off, and to see our first patients benefit from same day surgery at two of our hospitals on the same day has been fantastic.
“Feedback from the patients has been very positive and hopefully we will be able to increase the number of patients who benefit from day case surgery for joint replacements.
“It means much less disruption for them, and it will make a really important contribution to our efforts to bring waiting times down for patients from across the county.”
Chris Blackshaw from Redditch was the first patient to undergo a partial knee replacement as a day case procedure at the Alex.
He said: “As soon as I had come round and was feeling OK from the general anaesthetic the physiotherapist was with me, getting me to do basic exercises and checking I could support my weight and get about on crutches.
“While I was a bit sore, I felt absolutely fine and I was delighted to be told I could go home in the evening, which is what I was hoping for.
“The whole team involved were wonderful and I can’t sing their praises highly enough.”
Chris is now hoping to be back at work within a few weeks.
