Princess Royal Hospital Resumes Orthopaedic Surgery After One-Year Suspension

Orthopaedic procedures have recommenced at Telford’s Princess Royal Hospital, following a one-year suspension attributed to structural issues within the facility. The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust (SaTH) confirmed that scheduled operations have recommenced in stages, beginning with hip replacement surgeries, subsequently followed by knee replacement procedures. Advances in surgical and anaesthetic methodologies are now allowing patients to ambulate within hours post-operation and facilitate earlier discharges, with certain individuals returning home on the day of their procedure. The trust previously indicated that elective joint replacement operations were suspended last December, citing “estates issues” affecting the recovery ward. There have been patient grievances regarding surgical delays, exemplified by 80-year-old Sue Smith, who reported in June that she had been awaiting a hip operation for over six months. The trust issued an apology and expressed its anticipation of restarting orthopaedic surgical services during the summer period. According to the trust, Gloria Malpass-Leek was the initial patient to undergo surgery on the ward, receiving a hip replacement and being able to walk on the same day. Ned Hobbs, who serves as chief operating officer at SaTH, commented that this development represented “wonderful news for patients.” He further stated, “I would like to thank our patients for their support and understanding during this time and to the many teams across the trust who have worked so tirelessly to get the service back up and running.” Hobbs also added, “An extensive amount of work has had to take place with a complex set of ward moves to provide a suitable environment for patients having elective orthopaedic procedures to recover following surgery.”