New Surgical Day Unit gets green light in Southend

July 27, 2023

A new surgical day unit will be built on the Southend Hospital site, following agreement for NHS funding.

The £25 million investment has been secured as part of the NHS Targeted Investment Funds, that are specifically focussed on developing capacity for planned surgical procedures.

Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust, which runs Southend Hospital, will now begin work to create two additional state-of-the-art operating theatres, as well as an enhanced procedure room, which enables patients to have treatments under a local anaesthetic. The unit will also have facilities for patients to be able to recover from their operation for up to 23 hours, and will offer a further 5,600 procedures a year, reducing waiting times for patients.

The unit will be used for a broad range of operations, including in orthopaedics, urology, gynaecology, ear, nose and throat, and oral surgery.

Emma Gray, Medical Director for Theatres, Anaesthetics and Pain at Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust, said:

“These new theatres are very much needed, providing more access to care for people in South East Essex. They will improve clinical outcomes for patients, providing modern, purpose-built environments for surgery. Achieving this funding means we can reduce waiting lists significantly.

“In the longer term this new facility will enable us to modernise some of the other existing day surgery theatres at Southend Hospital, to enable surgeons to use modern operating techniques.”

Jenny Davis, Commercial Director at Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust, said:

“This is a great achievement to secure funding for the development of this new, advanced facility on our Southend site. The funding gives us additional capacity to reduce our patient waits, improving the experience of patients and staff in a modern centre.”

Local MPs have reacted positively to the news.

Sir James Duddridge MP, Anna Firth MP, and Rebecca Harris MP said:

“The announcement of this funding is great news for residents across Southend and Rochford. Patients will benefit from a modern Surgical Day Unit at Southend Hospital, which will lead to more surgical procedures being carried out by the Trust and help to bring down waiting lists.”

Rebecca Harris MP added:

“I welcome this good news, that will benefit Castle Point residents.”

The Trust expects construction of the new unit to begin in January 2024. The facility is due to open before the end of 2024/25.