Elective Orthopaedic Centre is getting it right first time
The North West London Elective Orthopaedic Centre (EOC), based at Central Middlesex Hospital, has marked its first full year in operation with formal accreditation to a national quality improvement programme.
The ‘Getting it Right First Time’ programme, run by NHS England, is designed to improve the treatment and care of patients through in-depth review of services, with senior clinicians examining how things are done and how they could be improved. Accreditation is seen as formal recognition of clinical and operational excellence at the EOC.
The centre was created to ensure patients have shorter waits for surgery, are more likely to go home quickly, and have a speedier recovery. It opened in December 2023 following a 13-week public consultation in which 2,000 people and organisations across eight London boroughs gave their views on how best to improve the provision of orthopaedic surgery in north west London.
One year on, and over 3,000 patients from across north west London have now passed through this ‘fast track surgical hub’ with most having procedures such as knee and hip replacements. The average length of stay is just 2.3 days.
EOC Medical Director, Matt Bartlett said: "Accreditation is a huge achievement for the EOC team. The assessors not only noted our fabulous building and the excellent facilities, but acknowledged a great culture at the EOC, with staff who are 'full of ideas, solutions and innovations'. Harnessing these will pay dividends for patients right across north west London for many years to come."
Musculoskeletal disorders are one of the most common long-term health conditions. They can severely affect people’s quality of life and many conditions can worsen over time.
The EOC is helping ensure people on the waiting list are seen as quickly as possible, with the care provided now assured to be of a consistently high standard.