Northwick Park Hospital has been running special ‘high intensity theatre’ (HIT) lists to help cut down the number of children waiting for surgery.
The backlog dates back to the pandemic, when most surgery was paused for several months except for the most urgent cases.
HIT days are scheduled at weekends and during school holidays, with surgical teams able to carry out procedures on up to 16 young patients in a single day. Operations include dental extractions, tonsillectomies and adenoid removal, with children usually able to return home later the same day.
Philomena Bouzemada, Head of Nursing for Children, said: “There is less demand for paediatric beds in the summer, young people aren’t in school and parents have more flexibility which is a win-win for both families and the hospital. We’ve had really good feedback by fitting in with what best suits the families involved.”
The scheme is designed to make it easier for families while helping the hospital deal with the backlog more quickly.
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