Tuesday, April 17, 2007

Surgery 'should be done locally'

Eight out of ten operations should be carried out on patients in their local area, says the government's national advisor on surgery.

Professor Sir Ara Darzi said the remaining more complex cases should take place at specialist centres by highly skilled surgeons.

He said developments in surgery over the past 20 years have changed how operations can be carried out.

Bernard Ribeiro, President of the Royal College of Surgeons, welcomed the call.

In his report, Sir Ara said developments like lasers and keyhole surgery had led to a quicker recovery for patients and less risk of infection.

He said procedures such as hernia operations could now be done as day cases in local settings.

Sir Ara said: "Whilst I have been practising as a surgeon there have been major advances in surgical techniques.

"Yet we could be doing much more minimally invasive day case surgery.

"The NHS is not yet providing surgery in a way that makes the most of the progress in surgery over the last twenty years.

"I hope my report will be a step in changing that."

THIS IS WHAT WE ALL WANT, LOCAL HOSPITALS DOING DAY TREATMENT.............
HAVE WE GOT ONE....................
OH YES WE HAVE AND A DAY TREAMENT CENTRE TOO.................................AND THEY
STILL WANT TO CLOSE IT IN 2 YEARS TIME