High quality surgery at the Alexandra Hospital is nationally recognised

The high standards of clinical quality and safety for patients having planned surgery at the Alexandra Hospital in Redditch have been recognised nationally, with the hospital awarded accredited elective surgical hub status.

The accreditation is the third for Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, which manages the Alexandra, as well as Kidderminster and Worcestershire Royal Hospitals, following successful separate accreditations for children’s and adult surgical services at Kidderminster in 2024.

The latest accreditation follows several months of hard work compiling a portfolio of evidence and hosting a visit by a team of external expert reviewers who met trust staff as well as patients who had been cared for at the Alexandra.

Stacey Waldron, Divisional Director of Nursing for Surgery at Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, says: “I am delighted that the Alexandra has received this accreditation, which is a testament to the incredible collaborative efforts of our teams and truly highlights how we work together to ensure the best outcomes and experiences for our patients.

“This milestone reflects the dedication and hard work of many colleagues and a special thanks goes out to everyone who played a role in preparing the evidence and hosting the visits. Their commitment and diligence have not gone unnoticed, and it is heartwarming to see that all their efforts have paid off. This accomplishment is something we should all be proud of, as it underscores our commitment to excellence in patient care.”

Hubs bring together the skills and expertise of dedicated staff under one roof, with protected facilities and theatres, helping to deliver shorter waits for surgery. Because they are separated from emergency services, surgical beds can be kept free for patients waiting for planned operations, reducing the risk of short-notice cancellations. The accreditation team praised the welcoming, friendly team at the Alexandra for providing high quality care delivered in an efficient way, with an excellent approach to quality improvement.

The hub accreditation scheme, run by NHS England’s Getting It Right First Time (GIRFT) programme in collaboration with the Royal College of Surgeons of England, assesses hubs against a framework of standards to help deliver faster access to some of the most common surgical procedures. At the Alexandra, these range from orthopaedic operations such as hip or knee replacements to gynaecological and urological procedures, many of which are carried out with the Trust’s surgical robot.

The scheme also seeks to assure patients about the high standards of clinical care and looks at evidence in key areas including: The patient pathway; staff and training; clinical governance and outcomes; facilities and ring-fencing; utilisation and productivity

Professor Tim Briggs, Chair of GIRFT and NHS England’s National Director for Clinical Improvement and Elective Recovery, said: “We have been impressed with the professionalism and enthusiasm of the hub teams who are delivering outstanding care.

“All of the sites we accredited are focused on delivering safe and high-quality care, and an excellent patient experience.  GIRFT’s focus is on developing surgical hubs with the aim of improving patient flow so that patients have shorter waits for surgery and, for some procedures, will be more likely to be able to go home on the same day.”