More patients received planned care as operating returns to pre-pandemic levels

Theatre team at Royal Stoke and County.

The number of patients receiving their planned care is back to pre-pandemic levels at UHNM thanks to the dedication of the hospitals’ theatres teams. During the pandemic staff at Royal Stoke University Hospital and County Hospital were relocated multiple times to provide support and help in areas which were most under pressure. This was to support safe staffing levels and often took them into new clinical areas, outside of their existing experience and comfort zone.

The theatres team has now scooped the Team of the Month award in recognition of their dedication to support colleagues across the Trust in the pandemic and for getting theatres straight back up and running to provide treatment for patients.

Michele Gibbs, divisional operations director for the surgical division, said: “The stress of working through the pandemic has taken its toll on our theatres teams, as it has with staff in many other areas. But they are now bouncing back thanks to good support and leadership within the teams.

“It is such a fantastic achievement to be back to pre-pandemic operating levels and we really just want to say a big thank you to everyone on the teams for caring enough to want to improve, never giving up, working compassionately and pulling together for the benefit of all our patients.”

Lisa Thomson, Director of Communications and UHNM Charity, said: “Not only did the team have to adjust and deal with the pandemic, they then had to jump right back in to the thick of it with our waiting lists. You could say it is the day job, but it’s massive and relentless.”