Yahoo News Derriford Hospital opens new children's surgery unit
A new dedicated children's surgical unit has opened at Derriford Hospital - enabling more youngsters to have their operations in Plymouth instead of travelling to Bristol. The unit has three operating theatres and a dedicated entrance and drop off area for children and young people.
There is also an admission area including spaces for children with additional needs, and a large stage recovery area so that children can be discharged home directly without needing to be admitted into the hospital. The new facility is the only dedicated children’s surgical unit in the South West, outside of Bristol Children’s Hospital, and only one of two in the country.
NHS bosses say the extra operating theatre spaces will enable the unit to support the increased need for surgery for children following the pandemic, particularly Ear Nose Throat (ENT) and dental services who have seen a surge in demand. It will support children’s surgery for patients from across the Devon and Cornwall region as well as in Plymouth.
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The new surgical unit welcomed its first children and young people in February. It is working in partnership with national NHS England teams and with Bristol Children’s Hospital to ensure every child possible from the area can have their surgery closer to home.
Consultant Paediatric Anaesthetist, Dr Simon Courtman said: “We are so lucky to have this fantastic facility for children and young people in the centre of the Peninsula, in Plymouth. We are able to offer surgery to children delivered by dedicated surgical, anaesthetic, and nursing teams in a unit specifically designed for children and young people.
"This will help us maintain high quality surgical services within the Peninsula and deliver it as close to home as possible for families. The extra space to do more cases every day, will benefit families in Plymouth, Devon, Cornwall and the wider South West and the teams are all committed to maximise this opportunity."
The Children’s Surgical Unit will be holding an open day on Saturday, June 22 from 10am-3pm for anyone to come along and find out more about the facility. There will also be lots of fun interactive experiences, arts and crafts and a teddy bear hospital.
There is no need to book and anyone interested is welcome to just turn up.
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