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Good Practice in NHS Treatment Centres

  • Last modified date:
    8 February 2007
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This section contains examples of exellence in key areas in functioning Treatment Centres across the country.

Kings College Hospital

Pioneering Practice Example

  • the very best and most forward-thinking practice in the design and delivery of the services it provides

The development of day case KTP laser prostatectomy at Kings College's treatment centre embodies this innovation. The trust performed the first in the NHS on 31 October 2002. In April 2003 they began treatment of prostates in their new treatment centre facility and have since performed nearly 200. They have now extended the procedure, not only as an alternative to trans-urethral resection of prostate (using electro surgery) but also as a viable option for men with larger prostates, who in the past had open surgery. This avoids lengthy stays of over five days during which almost all would have needed a blood transfusion.

Therapy led outpatient clinics

Therapy led outpatient clinics have redistributed workloads and given consultants more time to see complex patients, thus reducing waiting times.

Nurse-led discharge has reduced the overall length of stay for the patient.

Direct therapy referrals from primary care have reduced waiting times for patients who are now seen within six weeks of referral instead of 13 weeks for a first consultant outpatient appointment.

Hinchingbrooke Treatment Centre

Pioneering Practice Example

  • a high volume of activity in a pre-defined range of routine treatments and/or diagnostics

Hinchingbrooke Treatment Centre has been designed to take a large volume of activity. When it becomes fully operational in December 2005, and based on a current 'normal' working week of Monday to Friday, the day case suite will have a capacity of 25,000 FCEs (including endoscopy). Extending the working day and week can increase this as required. The outpatient and diagnostic element will have a planned activity of around 150,000 FCEs a year. In total the treatment centre will see up to a quarter of a million people every year - including patients, visitors and staff - passing through the building for health care services, providing a substantial addition to the capacity of the trust and the local health system.

Weston Treatment Centre

Pioneering Practice Example

  • scheduled care unaffected by demand for, or provision of, unscheduled care either on the same site or elsewhere

Avon, Gloucester and Wiltshire's Weston Treatment Centre opened in January 2003 for day case activity only. They have recently developed a system of shared care with the planned care unit (PCU) allowing the planning of surgical inpatients who can be admitted on the day to the treatment centre and transferred post-operatively to the PCU. This has allowed the transfer of two days of inpatient operating to the day case unit, freeing inpatient theatre and allowing the establishment of emergency operating lists. The PCU identifies bed allocation for surgical procedures with predetermined planned discharge dates, reducing the length of stay by bringing in the patient to a guaranteed bed on the day of surgery. It provides greater certainty for patients by making cancellations at short notice less likely, and reduces pressure on PCU staff by reducing admissions and rushed discharges.

Crewe Treatment Centre

Pioneering Practice Example

  • modern and streamlined, using defined patient pathways

From its inception, the development of Mid Cheshire Hospitals' treatment centre in Crewe has been a joint venture with their local primary care trust, and a vital part of the their development plan. A key component of the project has been designing care pathways around the patient, aimed at improving their experience, reducing appointments and improving efficiency.

ACAD Treatment Centre

Pioneering Practice Example

  • planned and booked services, with an emphasis on patient choice and convenience

ACAD launched its one-stop hernia clinic on 1 May 2004, for patients wishing to have their hernia repaired as a day case, under local anaesthesia. It is one of the first one-stop hernia clinics in the NHS. While the patient is with their GP, he simply refers the patient to ACAD via fax (e-bookings will in time replace this system). Patients are referred using protocols direct from primary care: they see a surgeon using a morning one-stop clinic appointment and, if indicated, have their surgery in the afternoon. The patient chooses the date of the procedure, giving them total choice and significantly improving the (Does Not Attend) DNA rate.

North Hampshire PCT

A nurse-led vascular clinic has prevented unnecessary hospital admission.

Pre-operative assessment in primary care has prevented visits to hospital for patients.

 

The Treatment Centres Team would welcome further examples of how TCs are improving services for patients. Send a brief description with contact telephone numbers and email addresses to the address below.

The team will take a close interest in the ideas and examples you send and where appropriate share these more widely.

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