More than 150 children received planned operations during a two-week summer surgery initiative at Leicester Children’s Hospital, helping to reduce waiting times and increase capacity ahead of the busy winter period.
Building on the success of previous ‘super weeks’, teams from across University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust (UHL) came together during the school holidays to carry out as many low-complexity elective operations as possible in a specially designated child-friendly ward environment.
The initiative focused on day-case procedures or short-stay surgery across Paediatric Trauma and Orthopaedic, Paediatric Gastroenterology, Paediatric Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT), Paediatric Plastic Surgery, Paediatric General Surgery and Urology, Paediatric Ophthalmology and Paediatric Maxillofacial. By concentrating activity in a single ward rather than spreading patients across multiple areas, teams were able to maximise efficiency and increase the number of operations completed.
The programme took advantage of a period when emergency pressures are typically lower, allowing more beds and theatre capacity to be dedicated to planned care. It formed part of Leicester Children’s Hospital’s ongoing work to reduce waiting times for children and ensure more patients receive treatment sooner.
Among those benefiting from the initiative was three-year-old Logan, who underwent a day-case procedure during the fortnight.
His mum, Steph Nicholls, said: “It has been such a welcoming environment and being able to come in and have Logan’s operation without the worry of a last-minute cancellation has been a really positive experience. We’re so pleased he’s been able to have his operation and we’re looking forward to getting home. Everyone has been incredibly supportive and the communication throughout has been excellent.”
Over the course of the two-week initiative, teams from a range of departments across Leicester Children’s Hospital worked together to deliver more than 150 paediatric operations.
Paediatric Surgeon, Mr Nitin Patwardhan, carried out a number of operations throughout the two-week period. He said: “We know that access to operating lists and beds is often limited, especially during the winter months. The summer holidays provide a valuable opportunity when emergency pressures ease and beds become more available.
“By concentrating our resources during this time, we can significantly increase the number of children receiving surgery. This approach not only reduces waiting times but also helps us deliver a smoother and more positive experience for children and their families. The feedback from parents has been overwhelmingly positive, and it has been hugely rewarding to do what we do best while seeing teams from across the hospital come together so seamlessly to make this initiative a success.”
Fifteen-year-old Ayesha had a femoral osteotomy around six months sooner than she had expected thanks to the initiative.
She said: “I was expecting to wait a lot longer for this operation, but being able to have it now has shortened my wait by about six months and I’m really grateful for that. The recovery for this procedure can take up to 18 months, so having it sooner rather than later means I can start looking forward to the future again and hopefully get back to playing football, which is what I enjoy most. It also means I’ve been able to have the operation during the summer holidays, giving me time to recover without missing school.”
To help make the experience as positive as possible, the ward was transformed into a welcoming space designed specifically for children and young people. Games, books, drawing and colouring activities were available, while health play specialists worked alongside clinical teams to keep patients calm, engaged and comfortable as they prepared for surgery.
Health Play Specialist Lucy Barnes said: “I work across the paediatric wards to help create an environment that is welcoming, reassuring and supportive for our patients. Through play and learning, I help children understand what is happening and make them feel less anxious about their treatment.
“It’s incredibly rewarding to support children through their hospital stay, help take their minds off their operations and see them go home after their procedure. The two weeks have been busy, but it’s been wonderful to see how many children we’ve been able to help and the difference we’ve made to them and their families.”
Over the past year, more than 350 children have received operations through these dedicated elective surgery initiatives, alongside UHL’s regular theatre activity.