A state-of-the-art surgical theatre has now come into operation at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, King’s Lynn.
The hospital is now one of a handful in the country to have a fully integrated laparoscopic theatre, complete with its high tech equipment and teaching facilities which will benefit patients along with the next generation of surgeons.
As the first of a two stage £3.2 million renovation project, Theatre 6 was stripped and then re-built to meet the hospital’s future needs. Work is due to start shortly on the Theatre 5.
While Theatre 6, which went live this week, will be used for keyhole surgery, it will also be used by a wide range of surgeons across different specialisms to help patients across the area.
Chief Executive of the Trust Dorothy Hosein says the theatre is a tremendous boost for the hospital.
She said: “Our new theatres will make a huge difference to our patients along with attracting surgical staff to come and work in West Norfolk. We are aiming to be an outstanding Trust in all areas of our patient care and this investment into our busy theatres is just one way of achieving that vision. I would like to thank all of our dedicated surgical team, including Mr Zulfiqar Khan, and those within estates for creating this high standard theatre which is no less than our patients should expect or deserve.”
The 36 surgeons complete on average 100 and 120 elective operations a week at the hospital, including orthopaedics, gynaecology, urology, colorectal and general. The benefit of laparoscopic operations are patients have a shorter recovery time and hospital stay due to the minimal invasive nature of the type of surgery.
Also included within the theatre are specialist scopes which provide high definition images for surgeons. Images from this theatre can also be transmitted down into the hospital’s lecture theatre to help with the training of future surgeons.
The new theatre, which also has a top of the range air filtration system, has also been future proofed with provision for laser surgery.
Consultant Zulfiqar Khan, who had been working on this project for eight years, says the new theatre will also help to attract new high quality surgeons.
He said: “This is great news for the local community as we have a state-of-the-art integrated laparoscopic theatre. We have been at the forefront of major keyhole bowel surgery for the last 10 years and this will greatly enhance what we are already doing.
“We are in a privileged position to have this high tech operating theatre where we can deliver our expertise more efficiently using the high definition visual imagery.
“Provision of this type of laparoscopic theatre is not commonly available within the health service. We are among a handful of hospitals and our patients will benefit from this massive development. I would like to say thank you to our Chief Executive, Dorothy Hosein, who has made this vision come true.”
—ENDS—
Pictured are:
Theatre renovation 7: Consultant Surgeon Mr Zulfiqar Khan in the state-of-the-art theatre
Theatre renovation 8: from left -Theatre Team Leader Marilyn Kennedy, Theatre Support Christine Williamson, Consultant Surgeon Mr Zulfi Khan, Sarah Munnelly and Rebekah Smith, who are both Senior Theatre Practitioners
Download press release, photos, audio and video here
Photo Gallery
QEH Media Hub 