An NHS Trust has celebrated a double first after two patients underwent knee surgery and were discharged on the same day. 

Patients Chris Blackshaw and Karen Chapman were both back home within 12 hours of their procedures at the Alexandra Hospital in Redditch and the Kidderminster Hospital and Treatment Centre. 

The same-day treatment marks the first time the Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust has provided total joint replacements as day case procedures. 

The treatment signals a new way of providing joint replacements at the Trust for patients who are fit and well enough, providing them with enhanced support for their recovery including post-operative physiotherapy almost immediately after they come out of the operating theatre.

This means that within four hours of having their surgery, they are able to walk on crutches and can be safely discharged to continue their recovery in the comfort of their own homes with ongoing support and advice available if they need it.

Dr Jo Marriott, the Trust’s Divisional Director of Specialised Clinical Services, said: "To see so much hard work and planning by our teams pay off, and to see our first patients benefit from same-day surgery at two of our hospitals on the same day has been fantastic.

"It means much less disruption for them, and it will make a really important contribution to our efforts to bring waiting times down for patients from across the county.

"It also marked the return of major joint replacement to our Kidderminster Treatment Centre for the first time since the Covid pandemic and that is a major step forward to the work we are doing to have Kidderminster accredited as a national day case hub, recognising the high volume, safety and quality of same-day surgical care delivered for our patients and diverse development opportunities for our staff.”

Following her procedure, Karen Chapman, who works as a midwife at the Trust, said: "Following surgery at 9.30am, I was back on the ward around lunchtime and the physiotherapist first visited me at 1pm.

"Following several visits that afternoon to get me moving, I was fit and well enough to leave in the evening and was back home by 7.45pm. 

“While I was fully prepared in advance for the procedure to be done as a day case, there was absolutely no pressure at all to go home unless I was ready. I was pleased to be able to get back to the comfort of my own home though, reassured that I could call at any time if I had any questions."

The improved service has been developed and delivered by colleagues from a number of teams across the Trust including operating theatre staff, surgeons, ward nursing teams and physiotherapists.

It is also hoped that the day-case surgery will help reduce waiting times and free up bed space on surgical wards for Worcestershire residents.