Hospital pioneering speedy care strategy

PATIENTS undergoing bowel surgery are making a speedier recovery thanks to a new, improved approach to their treatment and care.

The Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust is one of 14 sites in England chosen to take part in a new Enhanced Recovery Partnership Programme.

Enhanced recovery aims to help patients to get better sooner after surgery and return them to the comfort of their own homes more quickly.

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The programme is a whole team approach, and brings together best practice in the organisation of patient care and clinical management.

Patients are informed about the impact of surgery and are encouraged to become active participants in their own recovery process.

The physical stress of major surgery is reduced because less pre-operative preparation is required, new surgical techniques are performed, and pain control is well managed.

Consultant anaesthetist Dr Julio Nunez is the clinical lead for the programme.

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He said: "Enhanced Recovery is an exciting new concept, which uses a structured whole team approach to provide the best care available for patients. Patients are allowed to eat, drink and get on their feet a lot sooner."

Betty Stott, from Sowerby Bridge, was a patient on the programme, after being diagnosed with bowel cancer.

In the past, a conventional surgical procedure would have meant a hospital stay of around 10 days. But with Enhanced recovery, she was home in five days.

She said: "I was amazed that I was able to eat on the same day of my operation, and was up and walking about the day after."

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Consultant colorectal surgeon, Mr David Ilsley, carried out the operation at the Huddersfield Royal Infirmary.

He said: "The programme benefits patients and NHS staff. Thanks to the efforts of the whole team, patients recover more quickly and reach the point where they are ready to leave hospital sooner."