The London North West University Healthcare NHS Trust, which runs Northwick Park Hospital, has moved all elective orthopaedic procedures to a new fast-track surgical centre in Park Royal.
Elective orthopaedic procedures are planned surgeries to treat issues with bones, joints, or muscles, like joint replacements, ligament repairs, or fixing chronic pain.
Steve Watkins, a recent patient, shared his experience after undergoing knee replacement surgery at the Elective Orthopaedic Centre (EOC) in Park Royal. “The fast-track EOC is manna from heaven for patients like me who have been waiting for a knee replacement brought on by half a century of wear and tear,” he said.
Steve described the early morning wait for admission, noting the thoughts running through his mind: “What is it like inside an operating theatre? What is it like being put to sleep? Will I feel any pain? What if something goes wrong? Will I wake up?”
He mentioned his initial fear about undergoing a spinal injection, but he was persuaded by the anaesthetist’s recommendation. “A bit of gentle persuasion and the rubber stamp that an epidural is ‘the gold standard for knee procedures’ convinces me otherwise,” he said. The surgery itself involved replacing the worn parts of his knee with metal and plastic components, a process he drifted through “blissfully unaware.”
Post-surgery, Steve stayed four days due to knee flexibility issues, though he noted many patients are discharged after just two days. The pain management team and physiotherapists were attentive, helping him get back on his feet with crutches. He appreciated the support he received from hospital staff, saying, “Hospitals really are the sum of their parts.”
“Quick, efficient, and friendly and, two weeks later, the only way is forward and hopefully up (some stairs),” he added.
Chris Mitchell is the founder and editor of Harrow Online, Harrow’s leading local news platform.
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