Theatres

Our theatre team undertake more than 13,000 operations every year for inpatients and day surgery patients.

We care for our patients by ensuring that operations are carried out in the safest, most modern surroundings, with high quality care and treatment, provided by our expert theatre surgeons and theatre teams.

Our dedicated theatre team is always looking for ways to improve the service we provide.  We keep up to date with current research and progress, as well as assessing and review our skills regularly. 

We operate on patients from Herefordshire and the surrounding areas, and patients from other areas can choose to be referred to the County Hospital, in Hereford, for surgery.

We work closely with other departments within the Trust, including critical care teams and infection prevention and control. 

Surgical specialities

We perform many different types of operations in our inpatient and day surgery theatres including: 

• Emergency Surgery
• Trauma and Orthopaedics
• General
• Gynaecological
• Maxillo Facial
• Urology
• Ear, nose and throat, including major ear surgery
• Ophthalmology
• Breast surgery

Where are our theatres and how do they run?

We have seven high-tech operating theatre suites that deliver emergency and elective surgical procedures, predominantly for patients who will need to stay in hospital overnight following their operation.

We have a ten bedded recovery area adjacent to the theatres where patients are taken following their surgical procedures, prior to their transfer to a ward.

These theatres are located on the ground floor of the County Hospital, with direct access to and from our Emergency Department and our Intensive Care Unit.

In addition to these theatres, we have a bespoke stand-alone Elective Day Surgery Unit, located on the ground floor of the County Hospital. This unit is designed to accommodate patients undergoing Day Surgery procedures in a timely and efficient manner.

The Elective Day Surgery Unit consists of a waiting room, a pre-assessment area, three high-tech operating theatre suites and two areas for theatre recovery.

All of the aforementioned theatre suites are maintained at the highest standard and are equipped to carry out a full range of operations.

In addition to these areas, we also have a delivery suite for planned and emergency maternity services, located on the second floor of the County Hospital.

Our theatre teams across all theatre suites can consist of a surgeon, registrar, anaesthetist, operating department practitioners, healthcare assistants and ancillary staff.

Before coming to hospital

Here are some things that you can do to prepare yourself for your operation:

• If you smoke, giving up for several weeks before the operation reduces the risk of breathing problems and makes your anaesthetic safer.
• If you are very overweight, reducing your weight will reduce many of the risks of having an anaesthetic.
• If you have loose teeth or crowns, treatment from your dentist may reduce the risk of damage to your teeth if the anaesthetist needs to put a tube in your throat to help you breathe.
• If you have a long-standing medical problem such as diabetes, asthma or bronchitis, thyroid problems, heart problems or high blood pressure (hypertension) you should ask your GP if you need a check up.

On the day of your operation

• Nothing to eat or drink – fasting (‘Nil by mouth’).  The hospital should give you clear instructions about fasting. It is important to follow these.
• If you are a smoker you should not smoke on the day of your operation.
• If you are taking medicines you should continue to take them as usual, unless your anaesthetist or surgeon has asked you not to.
• If you feel unwell when you are due to come into hospital, please telephone the ward for advice.
• Routinely family and friends are not allowed into our Theatre Suite. However, in exceptional circumstances where children are undergoing operations a parent can accompany their child into the anaesthetic room and, if operationally practical, into the recovery areas to provide comfort and support.