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New £9.1m surgical hub opens at Ipswich Hospital

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A state-of-the-art £9.1 million surgical hub has opened its doors at Ipswich Hospital, offering advanced keyhole surgery capabilities. The development aims to reduce patient recovery times and increase treatment capacity.

The big picture: The new facility includes three specialist theatres, a recovery area, and a post-operative care unit. It's designed to handle various procedures, including general surgery, ENT, oral surgery, and urology.

Ribbon cutting with Ipswich mayor councillor Elango Elavalakan
Ribbon cutting with Ipswich mayor councillor Elango ElavalakanESNEFT

Why it matters: The hub's focus on keyhole surgery and same-day procedures could lead to:

  • Quicker patient recovery times

  • Reduced hospital stays

  • Increased capacity to treat more patients

Key features:

  • Located above the new Urgent and Emergency Care Centre

  • Linked to the main hospital via the first-floor south corridor

  • Includes a same-day admissions ward

What they're saying: Karen Lough, Director of Elective Care at East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust (ESNEFT), said, "We are delighted that this important new development is now open and welcoming patients."

On keyhole surgery benefits, Lough added: "This is great for patients, as it leads to less pain and scarring and a quicker recovery. This type of surgery is also good news for the NHS as patients do not need to stay in hospital for as long, in turn allowing us to see and treat more people on our waiting lists."

The bottom line: The new surgical hub represents a significant investment in Ipswich's healthcare infrastructure, promising improved patient experiences and increased efficiency for the NHS.

NHS trust helps 41,000 patients with health and lifestyle changes

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More than 41,000 patients have received support for healthier lifestyles through a new NHS programme in East Suffolk and North Essex. The Making Every Contact Count initiative has already helped thousands quit smoking and improve their diet.

Why it matters: The programme aims to tackle health inequalities between deprived and affluent areas in the region. In central Ipswich and Tendring, residents are more likely to be obese, smoke, and require emergency hospital care compared to areas like Framlingham and Great Bentley.

The big picture: East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust (ESNEFT) staff are using routine patient interactions, such as outpatient appointments, to offer lifestyle support and referrals to specialist services.

A&E at Ipswich Hospital
The Making Every Contact Count initiative has already helped thousands quit smoking and improve their diet at Ipswich HospitalOliver Rouane-WilliamsIpswich.co.uk

By the numbers:

  • 6,500 patients have been referred to support services

  • More than half of hospital inpatients referred to stop smoking services have successfully quit

  • 23.8% of people in the most deprived areas smoke, compared to 6.8% in least deprived areas

  • Adult obesity rates are 2.4 times higher in most deprived areas

What they're doing: The trust has launched several targeted projects including:

  • A 20-week healthy eating programme for children called 'Nourish'

  • Inpatient stop smoking services at Ipswich hospital

  • Picture menus on hospital wards to encourage healthy eating

What they're saying: Sally Barber, associate director for health inequalities at ESNEFT, said: "Figures show that there is a significant difference in the quality of life experienced by people in our most deprived areas compared with that enjoyed by those in the least. Tackling health inequalities is therefore a priority for ESNEFT as we want to make sure that everyone gets the same opportunities and access to health and wellbeing support, regardless of where they live."

Bottom line: The trust plans to make the programme "business as usual" for its teams to help even more people improve their health and wellbeing in the future.

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