A BRAND-NEW state-of-the art operating theatre hub has opened at Solihull Hospital.
The £45million hub, which opened on Monday (November 11) aims to reduced surgical waiting times and increase the number of patients who can be treated each week.
It is home to six new operating theatres and is set to provide treatment for patients waiting for a range of operations including cancer, joint replacement, upper and lower gastrointestinal, urology, breast, and plastic surgeries
Health bosses say many of the procedures will be performed using two trailblazing robots, enabling minimally invasive surgery to aid recovery.
Martin Richardson, Solihull Hospital executive director at University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Trust and Senior Responsible Office for Cancer and Diagnostics said: “After a huge amount of hard work from teams across the Trust, and our construction partners, we are thrilled that the elective surgical hub is now open and operational.
“We are dedicated to bringing down waiting lists and providing much-needed surgery for patients waiting for treatment. The hub, as well as our new ophthalmology treatment suite, will provide over 11,500 additional procedures every year for our local communities.
“We have also recruited over 230 new colleagues to ensure the hub is a success.
“This is brilliant news for Solihull and Birmingham.”
Judith Toney, a patient from Shirley was one of the first patients to be treated in the hub.
She said: “I’m having my hip replacement done today and I’m so pleased to be one of the first patients through the new theatres.
“I can’t wait to have my new hip and to be able to walk round the park. Just to get back to normality will be fantastic.
“As a local resident we used to wonder whether Solihull Hospital would stay open but it’s clear to see that it is, and being invested in.”
