The Operating Theatre Journal - Journal - Page 8
Mexborough Elective Orthopaedic Centre of Excellence (MEOC) to
welcome patients in the new year, following ribbon cutting ceremony
The Mexborough Elective Orthopaedic
Centre of Excellence (MEOC) will welcome
its 昀椀rst patients in mid-January, following
a ribbon cutting ceremony and tour from
respective colleagues at Doncaster and
Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals (DBTH), Barnsley
Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (BH), and The
Rotherham Foundation Trust (TRFT).
The MEOC is a dedicated orthopaedic hub
which will operate 48 weeks per year, 昀椀ve
days a week, focusing on procedures such
as hand and wrist surgeries, foot and ankle
treatments, arm and shoulder procedures,
carpals, knees, and hips. Its strategic location
at Montagu Hospital in Mexborough, ensures
that it will remain protected from the typical
disruptions experienced by general hospitals,
particularly during periods of heightened
activity during the colder months.
The facility features two state-of-the-art
theatre units, two anaesthetic rooms and
a recovery suite, in addition to 12 inpatient
beds within a dedicated ward area.
A collaborative effort between hospital trusts
in Doncaster, Barnsley and Rotherham, the
project has seen investment of just under £15
million, with construction beginning in July
2023, with much of the unit built off site.
First into the completed area was the
respective chairs from each of the participating
organisations, Suzy Brain England OBE (DBTH),
Sheena McDonnell (BH) and Kamran Malik
(TRFT).
8
Following a comprehensive tour from the
project team, the trio of昀椀cially cut the ribbon
on the one of the two operating theatres, with
Suzy stating: “Here we stand in a state-of-theart facility which is a testament to the things
we can achieve when we work together for the
betterment of our patients.
“I know I speak for all of my colleagues here
when I say that I hope the MEOC is just the
昀椀rst in a long line of such projects – initiatives
where we are able to pool our collective
know-how in order to provide the very best
services for those we serve in Doncaster,
Barnsley, Rotherham as well as the wider
South Yorkshire region.”
In its 昀椀rst year of operation, it is envisaged
that the centre will undertake over 2,000
orthopaedic procedures on behalf of the three
partner trusts, equating to about 40% of the
current orthopaedic waiting list locally.
Following the 昀椀rst tour, senior leaders,
colleagues who will staff the area, patients
representatives, as well as partners from NHS
England also had the chance to take a look
around, as well as of昀椀cially cut the ribbon on
the second operating theatre.
Dr Richard Jenkins, Chief Executive of both
Barnsley Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and
The Rotherham Foundation Trust, said: “The
Mexborough Elective Orthopaedic Centre
of Excellence represents a signi昀椀cant leap
forward in our commitment to delivering
exceptional orthopaedic care.
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“The collaborative effort between hospital
trusts in Doncaster, Barnsley, and Rotherham,
demonstrates our shared dedication to
enhancing healthcare services in the region.
This facility, equipped with state-of-the-art
amenities and strategically located at Montagu
Hospital in Mexborough, will undoubtedly
make a positive impact on the lives of our
patients.
“On behalf of all three trusts, I want to
share my thanks with the project team,
colleagues who have worked tirelessly on this
development since its inception, as well as
our construction partners at ModuleCo and
IHP Vinci who have delivered us this fantastic
facility in short order.”
Following the New Year, the MEOC team
will undertake a number of simulations
to
familiarise
themselves
with
the
working environment, before area will be
decontaminated and sterilised, welcoming its
昀椀rst patients in mid-January.
Patients from the collaborating hospitals
in Rotherham, Doncaster, and Barnsley can
easily access the MEOC, with it being centrally
located in Mexborough and served by regular
bus and train links, and the site is no more
than 11 miles away from all participating
hospital trusts.
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Pictured below: The Opening of the MEOC.
www.otjonline.com