A new online ‘Surgery School’ has been launched at East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust as part of their Enhanced Recovery Programme.
The platform, which is hosted on the Trust’s main website, is used for patients prior to their surgery to support and inform them on things such as how to prepare for their surgery, what to expect whilst in hospital and how to recover at home. There are a number of resources available including easy-to-follow videos.
The Surgery School was originally delivered in person through classroom lessons but since the COVID-19 pandemic began, the Trust has found new and innovative ways to deliver the information.
ERP is an up-to-date programme that is evidenced based and has been proven to reduce the risks of complications. Patients will work their way through the exercises and videos to learn about topics such as pain management, nutrition and exercise as well as meeting the Trust colleagues who will be there to help them on their surgery journey. The programme helps manage expectations and reduce anxieties prior to surgery and supports preparing your body and mind in the weeks or months before surgery by advising simple steps you can take to make a difference in how you recover.
Caroline Aherne, an Enhanced Recovery Nurse at the Trust, was part of the team who led the online initiative. She said: “Over the last 18 months it has become apparent that we are unlikely to be able to restart the physical group sessions in the near future. It was always our intention to provide an online facility for tertiary patients or those who couldn't attend the group for other reasons and COVID-19 gave us the push to get this developed, allowing patients the equal opportunity to access important information and support. “
“We have tried to keep the information at a level that is not overwhelming and easy to understand, we have split it into sections to enable patients to work through at their own pace. We hope this is only the start of what could develop into a much more complex and in-depth resource for patients, where in the future we can add virtual areas for each specialty.”
The online platform not only provides information to patients but also helps them establish a partnership with their surgical team, which is vital for getting the best recovery possible.
Consultant Colorectal Surgeon, Mr Nick Heywood, praised the new initiative, commenting on the differences it has made to his patients’ journey.
He said: “The success of surgery depends very much on a collective assessment, pre-operative optimisation and an intensive post-operative care plan to help patients have a faster recovery. The input we have from Surgery School and the Enhanced Recovery team makes up an essential part of the whole treatment and has been shown to improve patient outcomes".
Advise on how to utilise the platform is given to patients on their first appointment for their elective surgery, however you can also access it prior by clicking here.
