Modular theatre ensures waiting times compliance at Lincoln hospital

A modular operating theatre and mobile clinic has been deployed at Lincoln County Hospital to increase capacity for medical and surgical procedures.

The facility was supplied by Vanguard Healthcare and will provide services predominantly for ophthalmic and orthopaedic patients.

The modular operating theatre contains an anaesthetic room, operating room, recovery area, utility areas and a staff changing room. The mobile clinic encompasses a reception and waiting area, two examination room, two consultation rooms, utility areas and a pre-op assessment room. The units are positioned in front of one another, with a link corridor connecting the theatre walkway to the main hospital.

Joanna Fawcus, business manager for head and neck at United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust, which runs the hospital, said: "The mobile unit has enabled the orthopaedic service to access increased capacity within the main theatre suite which, in turn, allows the service to successfully achieve the national targets. The ophthalmic service moved into the mobile unit to facilitate this increased capacity for orthopaedics. The unit also created additional capacity for ophthalmology work and, as a result, we were able to treat more patients. At that time the ophthalmology service was also reconfiguring the service to ensure the national targets could sustainably be achieved.”

Ian Monaghan, sales director at Vanguard Healthcare, added: "We were delighted to work with the Lincoln County Hospital and provide them with extra capacity during this particularly busy period. For patients using our mobile service, the experience is no different to that of a permanent operating theatre.