Surgical Admission Lounge created to enhance patient experience

14 August 2017

Patients undergoing surgery at the Princess Royal Hospital (PRH) in Telford will enjoy an improved experience thanks to a new facility that has opened.

The Surgical Admission Lounge, which opened at PRH on Monday 7 August, offers patients a relaxed environment where they can meet with their Surgeon, Anaesthetist and Clinical Nurse Specialist before having an operation.

The Surgical Admission Lounge can accommodate 16 patients at a time and has six consulting rooms.

Claire Marsh, Ward Manager on the Day Surgery Ward at PRH said: “The Surgical Admission Lounge has been created in order to provide a relaxed and caring space for patients to receive pre-operative care and improve overall patient experience.

“The move means patients will have a comfortable area to wait to be seen by medical staff. Theatre efficiency will also be improved, resulting in fewer delays and shorter waiting times for patients. It will also reduce pressure on inpatient wards at the hospital, meaning patients will face fewer delays when moving through the hospital and they will be discharged home sooner.

Kath Preece, Matron on the Day Surgery Ward at PRH, added: “By having all elective patients in one area will allow patients to be seen by surgical and anaesthetic teams in the same area and will enable patients to wait in a comfortable and calm environment. It will take the pressure from inpatient wards, which will enable them to discharge their patients in a timely fashion, which will reduce delays and enable theatre sessions to start on time. It will improve patient flow through the hospital and, most importantly, improve patient experience.

“It has been a vision of ours to have a Surgical Admissions Lounge at the hospital for some time, and we are so happy to finally be able to start. I am sure it will be great success and the whole of the hospital will benefit from it.”