NHS Fife has become one of the first health boards in Scotland to successfully perform five hip replacements in one day.
Excluding the Golden Jubilee Hospital, which is a unique facility catering exclusively for procedures scheduled in advance, no other health board has achieved this.
The orthopaedic surgery team at the Victoria Hospital usually performs four procedures on its list every weekday but having been recognised as one of the most efficient theatres in Scotland, the team was challenged by the Scottish Government to add an extra one.
The team completed its task on October 31 and will now provide feedback which will be considered by government officials.
Consultant orthopaedic surgeon and NHS Fife director of surgery, Ed Dunstan, said: “In Fife we are committed to being as efficient as we can and making the best possible use of our resources to benefit our patients.
“We plan our patient lists well in advance, we make sure our staffing levels are appropriate and we always ensure our pre-operation assessment is as effective as it can be.
“We have separated our elective and emergency orthopaedic work and have a dedicated elective theatre suite, ward and team.
“As such we are uniquely placed to lead from the front when it comes to reducing the amount of time patients are waiting for operations.”
Of the five patients who underwent surgery, three were discharged within 24 hours. The average length of stay following hip replacement in Fife is now an average of 3.2 days, a significant improvement from eight days in 2008.
This statistic is one of the best in Scotland.
Mr Dunstan said: “Fife is one of the top performers nationally and to be asked by the Scottish Government to be the first to perform five hip replacements on a day list is a real testament to the high standards of our team.
“Indeed, NHS Fife’s orthopaedic surgical theatres are the second most efficient in Scotland with fewer early finishes, late starts and less turnover time between patients.”
