Mobile operations to cut waiting

The mobile theatre aims to cut waiting times

A Scottish hospital is to use a mobile operating theatre and ward as part of a drive to cut waiting times.

The initiative at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary is believed to be the first time that both a mobile theatre and ward have been used in Scotland.

The NHS Grampian unit will start taking a variety of day patients on Monday.

The £1m unit will be on the site for four weeks and it is estimated more than 200 operations will be performed during that stay.

The unit will help us to maintain and reduce our waiting times Ken McLay NHS Grampian

The unit will carry out procedures such as cataracts, hernia, and varicose vein surgery.

NHS Grampian has hired the mobile theatre from private firm Vanguard Healthcare Solutions, after a successful collaboration with the company last year.

The health board conducted 130 orthopaedic operations using the unit in March 2005.

Target resources

In addition to providing the theatre and ward, Vanguard is supplying the support staff for the theatre covering the disciplines of anaesthetics, recovery and scrub. NHS Grampian nurses will cover the ward.

Ken McLay, of NHS Grampian Acute Services, said: "The Vanguard mobile operating theatre is an effective and flexible way for us to target resources exactly where they are needed.

"The unit has proved to be an innovative way to address the needs of particular groups of patients without affecting services to others and will help us to maintain and reduce our waiting times."

It has been sited on the east side of the Foresterhill complex on ground previously occupied by the former children's hospital.