New room to enable 3,000 extra procedures - trust

Thousands of patients could get faster access to treatment following the opening of a new procedure room at a hospital, a trust said.

Braintree Community Hospital will offer almost 3,000 extra orthopaedic procedures a year after the £1.3m space is opened this summer, Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust said.

The new room will reduce waiting times for patients across mid and south Essex who need treatment that does not need to be carried out in a theatre, it added.

Ayse Casey, deputy director of operations, trauma and orthopaedics at the trust, said: "The new procedure room will free up our main theatres for more complex surgeries, such as knee and hip replacements."

Ms Casey added: "The room is a fantastic addition to Braintree Community Hospital, so patients coming to us for a simple procedure can be seen in a better environment."

Those needing treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome, trigger finger and minor foot, elbow and upper limb issues could benefit from the room, said a spokesperson for Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust.

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