Here’s patient Stephen Hunt leaving our Orthopaedics Ward 8B at CRH, as our first-ever patient to be discharged on the very same day he received a total hip replacement.

Here at CHFT we carry out almost 400 total hip replacements each year, and generally most patients stay with us for at least one night.

Orthopaedic Surgeon, Samer Mahmoud, was instrumental in pulling together the protocols for day surgery.

He said: “Unless there is a medical reason to spend a night at hospital, I expect everyone will have better night’s sleep in their own bed.

“Having day surgery also supports better flow through the hospital. Sometimes I’ll arrive in the morning for my operating list, and we are struggling for bed capacity. So I thought, if I did a day case on my list, it would free up space for my colleagues who are coming to operate the next morning, reducing bed pressures and risks of on the day cancellations. 

“I’ve since followed up with Stephen and both he and his wife were pleased that he was able to spend the night at home. He is doing really well and already down to using one crutch in less than a week from his operation.

"I couldn't have done it without the great support of the management team / Jane Peacock, Physio Team led by Charlotte Clee and the Ward team led by Linda Denham". 

Samer wanted to also give credit to those who were not included in the photo: 

• My manager: Jane Peacock who helped to get this amazing team together.
• The anaesthetic department who was very supportive of the project. 
• The anaesthetist of the day Dr. Gunarathna who performed a great anaesthetic allowing the patient to get up as soon as he was back in the ward and be able to perform his PT. 
• My assistant Dr. Abbas Shahid. 

Consultant and Divisional Director, Will Ainslie, said: “This is a significant milestone in the history of the unit, and it is a credit to you that you have been able to develop the protocol with the team for this since you started with us in August last year.

“Many thanks for your efforts, enthusiastically delivering a significant development in the service for our patients. I look forward to seeing this progress in due course.”