The Regional Day Procedure Centre at the Lagan Valley Hospital in Lisburn has become the first Day Procedure Centre on the island of Ireland to achieve accreditation from the UK-wide Getting It Right First Time (GIRFT) programme.

The accolade recognises the Centre’s commitment to delivering high-quality, efficient day surgery, improving elective surgical services and reducing waiting lists.

Since opening its doors in October 2020, the Lagan Valley Hospital Regional Day Procedure Centre has performed an incredible almost 26,000 day case procedures for patients from across Northern Ireland.

Patients have received care across a range of specialties including Gynaecology, Urology, General Surgery, Vascular and Plastics, with the Centre playing a vital role in delivering efficient, non-urgent elective surgery which is helping to reduce waiting times and improve patient care.

Lead for Accreditation, GIRFT Programme, Helen Wilkinson, GIRFT Chair, Professor Tim Briggs, GIRFT Associate, Boudine Pearce and National Lead for Anaesthetics and Perioperative Medicine for GIRFT, Dr Chris Snowden. Pic credit: SEHSCT

placeholder image — Lead for Accreditation, GIRFT Programme, Helen Wilkinson, GIRFT Chair, Professor Tim Briggs, GIRFT Associate, Boudine Pearce and National Lead for Anaesthetics and Perioperative Medicine for GIRFT, Dr Chris Snowden. Pic credit: SEHSCT

GIRFT is a national NHS programme designed to improve the treatment and care of patients through in-depth reviews of clinical services, benchmarking and the use of data and evidence to support improvements in care and service delivery.

The Regional Day Procedure Centre was the first dedicated facility in Northern Ireland established to specifically provide Regional routine day surgical procedures.

It provides operating capacity for patients from the Belfast Trust, South Eastern Trust, and Southern Trust, supporting a collaborative regional approach to tackling surgical waiting lists.

Following a successful pilot phase, the Regional Day Procedure Centre was fully commissioned in April 2023, reinforcing its contribution to elective surgery services across Northern Ireland.

Assistant Director of People and Organisational Development David Cairnduff, Nurse Lead for Education, Workforce and Development, Leanne Jones, Planning Support Manager, Kerry Bloomfield, Assistant Director, Finance, Claire Crudden, Clinical Manager, Simon Higgs, Staff Health and Wellbeing Lead , Stephanie Hare. Pic credit: SEHSCT

South Eastern Trust, Chief Executive, Roisin Coulter said: “This is a significant achievement for our Regional Day Procedure Centre Team and I want to congratulate everyone involved in reaching this important milestone.

“Since opening in 2020, the Centre has demonstrated what can be achieved through Regional collaboration and a clear focus on delivering efficient, high-quality care for patients.

"Almost 26,000 day case procedures have now been carried out for patients from across Northern Ireland and this accreditation provides external recognition of the standards, governance and processes that underpin the service.

“The Centre brings together staff and resources from across Trust boundaries to provide additional capacity for patients waiting for elective procedures.

General Surgical Registrar and ADEPT (Achieve Develop Explore Programme for Trainees) Fellow, Jack Kennedy, SPPG Programme Manager, Diane Stewart and Consultant Anaesthetist and Theatre Performance Lead, Damien Carson. Pic credit: SEHSCT

"This collaborative approach is helping us make the best use of our available resources while keeping patient safety and quality of care at the heart of what we do.”

To support the GIRFT accreditation process, the Centre’s Team compiled a comprehensive bank of evidence which was submitted to the GIRFT team in July.

This was followed by a face-to-face meeting and review at the Regional Day Procedure Centre at Lagan Valley Hospital.

The accreditation review focused on five key domains, Patient Pathway, Staff and Training, Clinical Governance and Outcomes, Utilisation and Productivity and Facilities and Ringfencing.

South Eastern Trust Consultant Surgeon, Lynn Darragh, Medical Director, Prof Stephen Kirk, Assistant Director, Anaesthetics, Theatres, ICU and LVH DPC, Jennifer Hamilton, Consultant Anaesthetist Dr Rachel Deyermond and Director of Surgery, Elective Care, Maternity and Paediatrics Brian McFetridge. Pic credit: SEHSCT

Trust psychologist living with prostate cancer praises palliative care which is ...

South Eastern Trust, Director of Surgery, Elective Care, Paediatrics and Maternity Services, Brian McFetridge added: “Achieving GIRFT Accreditation for our Regional Day Procedure Centre at Lagan Valley Hospital is recognition of a true team approach to developing our service to a point where it is recognised for meeting the highest standards of clinical and operational practice.

"I am very proud of our Trust team, colleagues from other Trusts and partners in the SPPG and Department of Health.

“We will continue to work with GIRFT to ensure we build our service and maintain this high standard to benefit patients from across the Region.’