Bishop Auckland Hospital (BAH) has achieved accreditation for delivering high standards in clinical and operational practice in surgery as part of NHS England's Getting It Right First Time (GIRFT) programme.
The national quality assessment scheme, delivered in collaboration with the Royal College of Surgeons of England and supported by the Royal College of Anaesthetists, assesses surgical hubs against a nationally recognised framework of standards.
The accreditation recognises the Trust’s commitment to providing high quality elective care and helping patients access some of the most common planned surgical procedures more quickly, including hip and knee replacements.
Surgical hubs are a key part of national plans to increase capacity for planned operations through improvements in productivity. Separate from emergency services, they provide dedicated operating theatres, beds and clinical teams focused exclusively on planned surgery.
The hubs primarily deliver high volume, low complexity procedures across six specialties: ophthalmology, general surgery, orthopaedics, gynaecology, ear, nose and throat (ENT), and urology.
As part of the programme Bishop Auckland Hospital has been accredited in recognition of its achievement against a defined set of clinical and operational standards, including:
• Patient pathways
• Workforce, staffing and training
• Clinical governance and outcomes
• Facilities and ring-fencing arrangements
• Utilisation and productivity
Will Manning, Consultant in Orthopaedics and Hub Clinical Lead at County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust said: “Achieving surgical hub accreditation represents an important milestone for Bishop Auckland Hospital and is a testament to the professionalism and dedication of our surgical teams.
“Establishing a dedicated environment for planned surgery, separate from emergency care, helps protect bed capacity for patients awaiting procedures and reduces the likelihood of short‑notice cancellations.
“This approach enables patients to access treatment more quickly, experience shorter waiting times and, where appropriate, return home on the same day as their surgery. While this accreditation marks a significant step forward, it also signals the beginning of the next phase of our improvement journey, as we continue to build on this strong foundation and further enhance the care we provide to our communities.”
By bringing together specialist skills and expertise in a dedicated setting, surgical hubs help reduce waiting times for patients and improve the efficiency of surgical services. Because they are protected from the pressures of emergency care, beds and theatre capacity can be reserved for planned procedures, reducing the risk of short notice cancellations.
Steve Russell, Chief Executive at the Trust added: "Achieving this accreditation is a clear demonstration of the progress our teams are making across the Trust to enhance the quality of care we provide. It is a significant achievement for everyone involved and reflects our ongoing commitment to reducing waiting times and delivering better outcomes for our patients.
"Through further improvements, our ambition is that the Bishop Auckland elective hub will be amongst the best for the experience of patients, the clinical outcomes and productivity. This accreditation reflects the hard work of our staff, whose commitment to delivering high quality care has made this possible, and who will continue to go even further.”
