The Surgical Team at Bridlington Hospital have joined more than 100 elective surgical hubs across England as part of a national initiative aimed at improving efficiency, increasing theatre productivity and helping more patients receive treatment sooner.
The Trust took part in Getting It Right First Time (GIRFT) Hub Optimisation Week earlier this month, giving surgical hubs across the NHS the opportunity to showcase what can be achieved when theatres and clinical pathways are working at their very best, while also sharing learning and best practice with organisations across the country.
Throughout the week, colleagues at Bridlington delivered increased theatre sessions and expanded the range of specialties running surgical lists. Both theatres operated every day from Monday to Saturday, with extended 10-hour operating lists supporting multiple specialties.
The initiative highlighted the growing role Bridlington Hospital continues to play in helping reduce elective waiting times and improve access to planned care closer to home for patients across the region.
It also showcased the teamwork behind the scenes, with theatre and ward colleagues, surgeons, pre-operative assessment teams, administrative staff and operational teams all working together to maximise the number of patients treated safely and efficiently.
During the Hub Optimisation Week, surgical teams at Bridlington delivered a 76 per cent increase in activity, performing 74 procedures compared with a typical baseline of 42 during an equivalent operating week.
Alongside improving productivity, the week focused on the whole patient journey – from screening and pre-operative assessment through to theatre flow, recovery and follow-up care – with surgical hubs benchmarking performance and sharing learning nationally.
Chief Operating Officer at York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Claire Hansen, said:
“This was a fantastic opportunity to showcase the important role Bridlington Hospital plays in helping us reduce waiting times and provide high-quality planned care closer to patients’ homes.
“The commitment shown by colleagues throughout the week has been exceptional. By working together across specialties and teams, we’ve been able to maximise theatre capacity, improve efficiency and help more patients access the treatment they need sooner.
“Bridlington continues to go from strength to strength as an elective surgical hub, and initiatives like this demonstrate what can be achieved through teamwork, innovation and a shared focus on delivering the best possible care for our patients.”
General Manager for Theatres, Anaesthetics and Critical Care at York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Sarah Crossland, added:
“It was a genuinely exciting moment for everyone involved and a real opportunity to showcase what Bridlington can achieve. The commitment, flexibility and teamwork from colleagues throughout the week has been fantastic, and we’re excited to build on this momentum and continue improving access to care for our patients.”
The Trust will continue building on the learning from the initiative as part of its wider work to improve patient access, reduce waits for planned care and make the best possible use of surgical facilities across the region.
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