Waiting Well – supporting our patients to prepare for surgery

'Waiting Well' is a region wide programme. It aims to support patients who are waiting for planned care, such as knee and hip replacements.

Evidence shows that taking simple steps before surgery or treatment can be helpful.  Improving fitness, diet and mental health plays an important role. It helps patients recover quicker. It also reduces the chance of being re-admitted to hospital.  The programme helps patients to manage their own health and wellbeing. It’s important for them to be as fit and healthy as possible before treatment. This means that there is much less chance of cancelling their planned care.

The programme focuses on around 70,000 people who we class as 'Priority 4' patients. These patients have been waiting longer for their treatment. Around 21,000 of these patients come from some the most deprived areas in the country. We know some of these patients have complex, long term physical and mental health problems.

Across the North East and North Cumbria ICB area, work is already underway to support our 'Waiting Well' patients.  Patients are contacted via letter and offered support and signposting to a number of useful services and information.

The patient receives a phone call from a member of the local support team after they have received their letter. This is to talk to the patient about their general health and wellbeing.

Lots of the patient contact and admin is currently happening at hospital trusts. In the New Year, the central hub will manage this. It will do this in partnership with trusts and other partners across the ICB footprint.

Further information for patients will follow soon to make sure we are all saying the same thing. We will keep you updated as the programme continues.

If you need further information, contact necsu.comms@nhs.net.