King George's tackles long wait for treatment with 20 ops

The operations took place at the Elective Surgical Hub at King George Hospital on  August 1, focusing on patients waiting for gallbladder, hernia, and colorectal operations. Some had been waiting up to 40 weeks for treatment.

The hospital’s previous record was 19 operations in one day.

Sandeep Kaul, robotic surgeon and our colorectal lead, said: "We want to increase what is possible on the weekend using extra efficiency, patient selection and allocating longer theatre time.

"These patients have experienced long waits as we focus on more urgent operations, and that’s not a good service for them. Some can end up in A&E in pain so the more we treat during these high-volume weekends, the better is it for them."

The high-volume surgery day is part of a broader effort to reduce waiting lists, with similar clinics held since the pandemic to address backlogs. These targeted days focus on patients who have waited the longest, including those needing treatment for haemorrhoids and anal fissures.

Of the 600 patients currently on King George’s general surgery waiting list, about half require these procedures. By grouping together similar, straightforward cases, the hospital can achieve faster turnaround times and treat more patients in a single day.

A combination of robotic, laparoscopic, and open surgical techniques are used to maximise efficiency and cater to patient needs.

The surgical teams work together across wards, theatres, and administration to make these high-volume days possible.

Joyce Hartzenberg, clinical group director of operations for surgery, said: "Through careful planning, dedicated multidisciplinary teams and a relentless focus on productivity, we have treated 33 patients over two weekends, enabling them to receive their operations sooner while making the best possible use of our theatres. This approach is helping us reduce waiting times and is an important part of our wider elective recovery programme."