The building’s base and steel structure are in place, the lift shaft and main staircase hinstalled, and the operating theatre floors have been added. The new facility, located at St Albans City Hospital, will be known as Hertfordshire and West Essex Surgical Centre, St Albans – a name that healthcare staff and patients helped choose. Patients across Hertfordshire and west Essex will be given the choice of going there for treatment.
It is a collaborative venture between the Hertfordshire and West Essex Integrated Care Board (ICB) and three local hospital Trusts – East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust, The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust, and West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust – who will refer patients into it, and whose surgical teams will carry out operations there.
Patients awaiting hip and knee surgery, spinal injections, or minor ear, nose, and throat operations will be treated at the centre, which will care for around 4,000 patients a year, mostly as day patients.
Jane Halpin, Chief Executive of Hertfordshire and West Essex ICB said, “It’s great to see our new surgical centre really taking shape. Managing waiting lists is a priority for the local NHS, and this new centre will provide patients with faster access to treatment. We thank patients for their support in shaping the new service as part of our continuing work to develop the Hertfordshire and West Essex Surgical Centre at St Albans.”
Work is also continuing to recruit staff for the new surgical centre.