A NEW airflow system has been installed in Minehead Hospital to help improve patient safety and increase the number of day surgeries which can be performed.

The hospital’s operating theatres now have portable laminar airflow systems thanks to support from the League of Friends of Minehead Hospital.

Hospital theatre sister Tessa Sanford said: “The system is used to take small bacterial particles out of the air, reducing the chance of infection, a huge improvement in patient safety.

“It means that all types of bone surgery, such as joint replacements, are a lot safer.

“It is really clever, and the beauty is that it is so quiet that patients do not even realise we are using it.

“It can be targeted to the specific area of the body where the surgery is taking place too, and it is really easy for our colleagues to use, they just need to undertake a simple five-minute training session.

“Our colleagues have told us they really like using the new system and were able to give us feedback on any early teething problems, which are inevitable when using a new type of system like this.”

The theatres in the hospital, which is run by Somerset NHS Foundation Trust (FT), are used for day case surgeries which do not require a general anaesthetic or an overnight stay.

Minehead has been offering a variety of types of day surgery for the past 20 years, both at the old hospital in the town centre and the current building, off Luttrell Way.

However, does not have facilities for general anaesthetic because there are not any overnight surgical beds.

Instead, it offers a range of day case surgery, from orthopaedic wrist and hand operations to podiatric surgery for feet and ankles.

Ms Sanford said: “Our patients are screened by their clinicians to check whether they are suitable to be treated at Minehead Hospital.

“Those who need an overnight stay in hospital following surgery will be seen at Musgrove Park or Yeovil Hospital.

“We provide surgery to ASA grade one and two patients, as defined by the American Society of Anaesthesiologists.

“This is generally people who are fit and well, who want surgery closer to home at our community hospital, without general anaesthetic.

“We also carry out carpal tunnel procedures, certain urology procedures, and much ocular plastic surgery, as well as dermatology, maxillofacial, and minor oral surgery.

“It is quite a lot really.

“One of the real benefits of our quieter theatre is that we are able to train students who are starting off in their career in surgery, by giving them exposure to these types of minor surgery in a more relaxed setting.

“And our patients do not need to go to an acute hospital for treatment and are able to leave us on the same day as their operation, great news, as we know that people recover quicker at home.

“In effect, our patients are getting the same level of service that they would get at Musgrove Park or Yeovil Hospital, but nearer their home in a community setting.”

Somerset FT’s surgeon Michael Hutchby, who works out of Minehead Hospital and specialises in podiatric surgery, said: “Our podiatric surgeons are allied health professionals who have undertaken 10 years training, including two masters degrees at the University of Huddersfield, as well as three years of practical training, leading to a Fellowship with the Royal College of Podiatry’s Faculty of Surgery.

“This surgical specialty generally covers feet and ankles, and is predominantly community-based, although there are a small number of larger specialist units elsewhere in the country.

“We work closely with our nursing colleagues and our unit is staffed by a team of podiatrists, who are advanced practitioners who can undertake local anaesthetic blocks, as well as resuscitation and steroid injections.

“With diabetes on the increase, our unit is very important as we help to prevent a patient’s condition from getting worse, so they are less likely to need additional surgery on our main orthopaedic units at Musgrove Park and Yeovil Hospital.

“I want to say thank you to the league of friends for buying this new laminar airflow unit and for all their support for our hospital – it has certainly maintained the scope of my practice in the community setting, and is likely to increase it.

“The league is a great advocate for Minehead Hospital and is always keen to promote the work we do here and to encourage people to use the hospital’s facilities if they need us.”

League of friends chairman and local councillor Mandy Chilcott said: “We are pleased to have purchased the new Laminar Airflow System for Minehead Hospital’s theatres.

“The league is a local charity that helps to fund equipment that will improve the visits and stays of patients who have the need to use our wonderful hospital.

“This is one of the latest purchases that we have made, and the trustees welcome the fact that this equipment will allow more surgeries to take place in Minehead, reducing the need for residents to have to travel to Taunton or Yeovil.

“Minehead Hospital has so much to offer and we hope to see the number of services and procedures available locally continue to increase.

“Our work is only made possible by the kindness of those that donate to the league and we are thankful to all those that support us.”

More information about work of the league of friends can be found here.