Short Stay

IN THIS SECTION

• Our Services
• Why Choose Us
• Patient Information Leaflets
• Coming Into Hospital
• Transport and Parking
• Safeguarding
• Healthy living
• Same Sex Accommodation
• Making a Donation

The new 32 bedded Short Stay Surgical Unit (SSSU) was opened in August 2006 within the C&SU build. Its predecessor opened in March 1998 and was the first nurse-led short stay unit to be set up in the North West.

On average, the unit has 90% bed occupancy. Nurses admit and discharge patients according to criteria set by consultant surgeons and consultant anaesthetists. All beds are pre-booked and this arrangement enables patients to pre-plan around existing work and family commitments. The average length of stay is 23 hours although some patients may have a pre-booked admission lasting 48 hours.

Patients requiring a broad range of planned surgery are referred to the unit by their consultants. Most of the cases treated on the SSSU fall into five major surgical specialities; ENT, gynaecology, urology, general surgery and orthopaedics.

All patients treated in the SSSU have been carefully selected as appropriate surgical cases and are treated using anaesthetic techniques that allow rapid recovery with minimal pain. The patients are pre-assessed for general fitness.  This service is run by nurse practitioners and has contributed to the success of the unit.