1,000th patient receives treatment at the brand new £3m Day Surgery Unit

St Joseph's Hospital provides additional 500 surgeries a month.

The Day Surgery Unit, which opened at St Joseph’s Hospital in Newport opened to patients in May this year, allowing up to 500 extra procedures to take place a month, has just welcomed its 1,000th patient. Alexandra Simes (pictured below) underwent cataract surgery in the new Day Surgery Unit at St Joseph’s Hospital and received a surprise cake and celebration to mark the milestone.

The state-of-the-art Unit was developed following a £3m investment. The new facility supports faster treatment for local patients waiting for day surgery as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Unit is purpose-built for complex same-day elective surgery, as well as straightforward procedures such as carpal tunnel surgery, hernia repair, removal of skin lumps, gall bladder removal, and knee arthroscopy. Same-day surgery is designed to give patients greater flexibility and minimise any stress and anxiety as they are admitted on the day of surgery and go home a few hours after their procedure.

St Joseph’s Hospital continues to support the NHS following the recent announcement that the numbers on waiting lists for non-urgent treatment in Wales have hit record levels and continue to grow since the pandemic began. [source: www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-58267774]. 

The Day Surgery Unit is part of the expansion of the hospital and ongoing investment in its facilities, which allows St Joseph’s Hospital to continue to provide the very best care available, to enable quicker recoveries. At the forefront of diagnostics in the UK, St Joseph’s Hospital is perfectly positioned for patients in Wales, the South West and beyond. 

Jo Swan, Day Surgery Lead, comments: “We’ve got a great team here in the Day Surgery Unit with everybody contributing to the inclusivity and strong bonds that deliver the best possible care for our patients. It’s the individuals who matter when it comes to a positive working environment, and I’m pleased that we can offer patients a safe, comfortable and caring experience here at St Joseph’s.”  

Andy Terry, Associate Director of Clinical Services, adds: “St Joseph’s makes an important contribution to local health provision in Wales, and I am pleased to see the ongoing investment in day surgery facilities here. This allows more patients to be treated quickly in a comfortable and safe environment. We will continue to maintain a safe environment with the same professionalism and rigor required during the height of the Covid pandemic.”  

Alexandra Simes, the 1000th patient to receive treatment at the new Day Surgery Unit, comments: “It’s been a brilliant experience here at St Joseph’s. Everyone’s so welcoming and caring with a very personal approach. Having been on an NHS waiting list for two years I decided to self-fund my cataract surgery. My eyes have deteriorated since my initial diagnosis, and I’ve been unable to drive for the last 12 months. It’s a huge relief to have had the surgery and to feel so well looked after.” 

The Day Surgery Unit is part of the continued multi-million pound investment in St Joseph’s. The third wave of investment this year includes the refurbishment of the inpatient bedrooms with the new TV screens, giving patients access to digital TV including Sky channels already installed. A completely Covid-free environment, the hospital offers over 300 treatments across 40 different specialities from Cardiology to Ophthalmology and Orthopaedic to General Surgery. Its Centre of Advanced Diagnostics is widely recognised as the most advanced in any independent hospital in South Wales.