Patients offered chance to have their surgery early

Usually this time of year, hospitals including the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust, would be closing its Theatre doors to planned operations and only concentrating on emergency care over Christmas and the New Year. 

This year, following months of planning and testing, Theatres at the Royal Berkshire Hospital will continue to operate on patients with routine, planned operations taking place throughout the festive season, into the New Year, with fully staffed Theatres and wards.  The only days they will close are the bank holidays.  

The Trust is asking patients waiting for surgery to consider having their operations earlier during the festive period and to take advantage of slots that have been made available.  Even if they have not yet been given a date, patients waiting for operations could potentially have their operation much sooner.

Christmas and New Year is an ideal time to have operations as patients have more holiday time to recouperate rather than taking sick leave or annual leave from their jobs. They may also have the advantage of having family, friends and neighbours close by, who may be able to help them as they recover.  

Mary Sherry, Chief Operating Officer, said: “It is important that we keep our Theatres busy over this period.  When we don’t use the Theatres, it means patients are not having their operations and that our waiting lists grow into the new year.

 “We’re going to do something different this year.  We have demonstrated over the past few months that we can manage both our planned operations and the emergency cases and we are determined not to make people wait longer than necessary for their routine operations. 

“Our Theaters are open and fully staffed, and the teams are keen to treat patients at this time.  Our new model of care could transform how hospitals work over Christmas and the New Year.”

Any patient waiting for a date for their surgery or those who have had had their pre-operation checks with dates for January or February could be seen next week.  They should call the number on their appointment letter or call the hospital’s main number - 0118 322 5111 as soon as possible.