THOUSANDS more operations will be possible with the new installment of an ultraclean operating theatre at a Suffolk hospital.The new theatre at West Suffolk Hospital in Bury St Edmunds will be used for orthopaedic surgery and is specifically aimed at hip and knee joint replacement surgery.
THOUSANDS more operations will be possible with the new installment of an ultraclean operating theatre at a Suffolk hospital.
The new theatre at West Suffolk Hospital in Bury St Edmunds will be used for orthopaedic surgery and is specifically aimed at hip and knee joint replacement surgery.
It features a pristine environment to minimise the risks of infection. A current of sterile air blows down onto the patient and the air pressure keeps bacteria away from the wound.
A spokesman for the hospital said: "Infection of the bone is a serious complication for people who have undergone a major joint operation, and it is important that the risk of infection is reduced as far as possible.
"All major orthopaedic surgery at the West Suffolk Hospital now takes place in an ultraclean environment."
Two new orthopaedic surgeons Paul Nicolai and Andrew Dunn, have been recruited to work in the new theatre, bringing the total number of orthopaedic surgeons working at the hospital to nine.
This is the third ultraclean theatre at the West Suffolk, making nine main
theatres in total.
The extra capacity means the hospital will now be able to perform 800 more hip and knee joint replacements each year.
It will also perform an extra 2100 day-case cataract operations and 1680 other operations.
Chief executive John Parkes said: "A third new ultraclean theatre is another major addition to the facilities available at the West Suffolk Hospital.
"It will be a great help as we strive to deliver the best in healthcare to more people, more quickly than ever before.
"I want to welcome our new orthopaedic surgeons to the Trust and am sure that they will swiftly prove to be excellent members of our clinical team."
The ultraclean theatre is part of the hospital's £5.6m development called the Diagnostic and Treatment Centre (DTC).
This includes a two-storey extension to the rear of the day surgery unit, comprising two new operating theatres and ophthalmic outpatient clinic.
It is due to be open to patients in January 2004.
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