Helping patients to get better, fitter, quicker

The Enhanced Recovery Programme – Invitation to public showcase

A public event to showcase the work Isle of Wight NHS Trust healthcare professionals are doing to reduce the physical stress of an operation is being held in May.  The interactive, practical and educational drop in event is being held on 9th May 2012 between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. in the Conference Room at St Mary's Hospital in Newport.

The Enhanced Recovery Programme is about improving patients experience and their recovery after surgery.  It focuses on making sure that patients are actively involved in their own recovery process and are mobilised as soon as possible.

Sue Biggs, Matron at St. Mary’s Hospital, said: The programme brings together two best practices - organisation of care and clinical management. More focus is given to pre-operative assessment, planning and preparation before admission and patients and their families are involved in the planning and management of the recovery phase."

The Enhanced Recovery Programme at St. Mary’s Hospital is led by a multidisciplinary team of professionals which include surgeons, anesthetists, nurses, allied health professionals and NHS managers. The team work together to ensure less invasive surgical techniques can be used wherever possible, and pain relief and the management of fluids and diet are considered which help patients to get on their feet quicker and be better prepared to manage when they are back at home.

The Programme has been in place within the areas of major Colorectal and Gynaecology surgery since mid 2010 and within the past few weeks Orthopedics. The improvements made have empowered and educated patients, improve the delivery of quality care and resulted in a noticeable reduction in length of stay, resulting in positive outcomes for all. Plans are now in place to introduce the principles of the Enhanced Recovery Programme to other specialties including Urology, Maternity, Acute Medicine and for day case procedures.  It is hoped that the programme can in due course be expanded to include emergency surgery and Trauma.