Our ‘working ideas’ mean we would need to change where some operations take place. This would depend on what the operation is for. In all of our ‘working ideas’:
•    All emergency surgery would take place at Sunderland Royal Hospital. This is because we already have lots of other specialist services in Sunderland. It would also help us to have more surgeons to cover on call arrangements. 
•    We would have separate pathways of care for planned operations. We have some different ideas on how we could do this.

General Surgery

‘Working idea’ one

‘Working idea’ two

Inpatient operations 

All emergency operations would take place in Sunderland.

All planned operations in General Surgery would take place in South Tyneside.

 

All planned operations in General Surgery would take place in Sunderland.

Day case surgery

Urgent day case surgery would take place at both hospitals.

Planned day case surgery would take place at both hospitals.

 

In ‘working idea’ one, we would need to invest in a new surgical robot in South Tyneside.  This would be for people who need colorectal (bowel) surgery. The robot is a specialist piece of equipment used for very precise surgery. It is controlled by highly trained surgeons. It reduces the time patients need to stay in hospital and the need for future operations.  

The main difference between our General Surgery ‘working idea’ is how we spilt planned operations that require an overnight stay in hospital.  In ‘working idea’ two, all patients who have General Surgery and need to stay in hospital overnight would go to Sunderland. In both ‘working ideas’ there would be no change to where day case operations in General Surgery take place.
 

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