Friarage Hospital’s surgical hub has gained national recognition for its exceptionally high standards of clinical and operational practice.
The surgical hub – one of more than 50 across the country which exclusively perform planned surgery to help deliver shorter waiting times – has been formally accredited by NHS England’s ‘Getting it right first time’ (GIRFT) scheme.
And the announcement comes just weeks before the official opening of the Northallerton hospital’s new £35.5million surgical centre which will more than double the number of planned operations it carries out each year.
Sarah Baker, lead nurse for the Friarage Surgical Centre project said: “We are proud to have been accredited as a surgical hub, recognising our commitment to delivering high quality, efficient care for our patients.
“We look forward to the opening of the new Friarage Surgical Centre in the next few weeks marking another step forward in delivering the best surgical pathways for each and every one of our patients.”
The GIRFT team were particularly impressed with the professionalism and enthusiasm of staff, the streamlined pathways and the shared vision to provide an excellent service for the local community.
Andrew Port, consultant orthopaedic surgeon, chair of elective services and the clinical chair of the Friarage Surgical Centre said: “This national accreditation recognition as one of the best surgical hub facilities in the country is the culmination of 10 years of planning and a testament to the individuals and teams involved bringing it to fruition.
“The Friarage Surgical Centre stands as a national beacon of excellence for planned surgical care in terms of quality and efficiency to the population of North Yorkshire and Teesside.
"It provides a dedicated facility for delivering orthopaedic robotic technology for hip and knee replacements – one of only 15 NHS centres in the UK where this can be accessed. It also utilises smart suite theatre technology for minimally invasive surgery.”
This is the second time University Hospitals Tees has gained this accreditation. The University Hospital of Hartlepool was one of the first in the country to be awarded surgical hub status in January 2024.
Stacey Hunter, group chief executive for University Hospitals Tees added: “This is a huge achievement. Well done to everyone involved across our theatre teams and specialties who have worked exceptionally hard to make this happen.
“Thanks also to our building partners, Friends of the Friarage and our local elected representatives who continue to champion the Friarage.”
For the latest updates visit southtees.nhs.uk/hospitals/friarage/friarage-surgical-hub