University Hospital Coventry Day Surgery Unit offers Sunday hand trauma surgery

Surgery for hand injuries is being offered to patients in Coventry and Warwickshire on Sundays in a pioneering move to further enhance the patient experience.

University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire (UHCW) NHS Trust is offering the new Sunday surgery option as part of a push towards seven day working weeks for the NHS.

The Sunday surgery option is being offered to patients who need urgent hand trauma operations and are also well enough to come in and go home on the same day.

This means if a patient injures themselves on a Friday, they do not have to wait long for their operation if their surgery is urgent.

Mechanic Richard Pathaway (47) from Henley Green, Coventry, who underwent surgery after cutting his finger with an angle grinder, said of the Sunday surgery: “I work six days a week so to get the option of having surgery on a Sunday was absolutely brilliant.

“It meant I did not have to miss any work and I was able to fit it right in with my regular week. I couldn’t have asked for better care.

“Every question I had was answered before I asked it and the outcome has been wonderful. My finger is completely back to normal and the overall experience was completely stress free.

“I would definitely recommend the Sunday surgery to anybody in need as it’s an excellent service offered by UHCW.”

The Sunday Theatre list was opened in September 2018 and has so far dealt with 85 patients.

It complements the Saturday morning new patient hand trauma clinic where patients are seen and assessed (after what is often a busy Friday for injuries!).

Helen Hedley, Consultant Hand and Wrist Surgeon at UHCW NHS Trust, said: “Our Sunday surgery offers prompt surgical treatment for patients with urgent hand injuries.

“Before this, if patients needed to have urgent hand surgery at the weekend, we would have to try and gain a slot on the very busy main trauma theatres, where priority is (rightly) given to patients who require urgent, lifesaving surgery.

“Unfortunately our patients would sometimes have to wait all day until these big cases had been completed, or even worse get cancelled as other cases had taken longer than expected.

“We treat patients primarily upon their clinical urgency but wherever possible we will try and fit around their busy lives too and the Sunday theatre list helps fulfil both of these aims.

“With more frequent availability of theatre sessions to include the weekend we can reduce waiting times and provide prompt, more effective treatment for hand injuries. The Sunday surgery is making a positive difference to patients across Coventry and Warwickshire.”