The East Midlands Planned Care Centre (EMPCC) at the Leicester General Hospital has been successfully awarded a national NHS England accreditation for delivering high-quality clinical care.
The Getting It Right First Time (GIRFT) national quality assessment scheme is delivered in collaboration with the Royal College of Surgeons of England, and the Royal College of Anaesthetists. It assesses surgical hubs against a framework of standards to help hubs deliver faster access to some of the most common surgical procedures, such as cataract surgeries and gall bladder removal. It also seeks to assure patients about the high standards of clinical care.
Surgical hubs are part of NHS England’s elective recovery plans to increase surgical capacity and reduce waiting lists and receiving accreditation is a highly valued mark of exceptional quality.
Helen Hendley, Chief Operating Officer at UHL said: “We are delighted that the EMPCC has achieved national accreditation. This recognition reflects the dedication and expertise of our teams, who are working hard to provide high-quality planned care in a state-of-the-art environment designed around patients’ needs.
“The centre is playing an important role in helping us reduce waiting times, improve patient experience and ensure more people can access treatment as quickly as possible. Achieving this accreditation demonstrates our commitment to delivering safe, effective, and efficient care for the communities we serve.”
The EMPCC is one of 92 hubs currently accredited. The accreditation scheme has been running since March 2023 with quarterly cohorts to accredit all hubs. While it is not mandatory for trusts to seek accreditation, the long-term goal is for every elective hub to be accredited.
The hubs exclusively perform planned surgery and mainly focus on high volume, low complexity (HVLC) surgery across six specialties – ophthalmology, general surgery, orthopaedics, gynaecology, ear nose and throat, and urology.
Hubs bring together the skills and expertise of staff under one roof, with protected facilities and theatres, helping to deliver shorter waits for surgery. Because they are separated from emergency services, their surgical beds can be kept free for patients waiting for planned operations, reducing the risk of short-notice cancellations.
Professor Tim Briggs, GIRFT programme lead and NHS England’s National Director for Clinical Improvement and Elective Recovery, said: “Surgical hubs are improving patient flow so that patients have shorter waits for surgery, are more likely to go home on the same day and have a better patient experience.
“This accreditation scheme provides assurance for patients and staff that these sites are delivering safe and high-quality care now and will continue to accelerate their progress and productivity in the future.”