Press Release

29 July 2008

Broomfield is the new specialist centre for head and neck surgery in Essex 

Broomfield Hospital in Chelmsford has been chosen as the new Specialist Centre  for Head and Neck Services for Essex.

The creation of this centralised Essex Head and Neck Surgical Network Service was agreed following a full and comprehensive public consultation in January 2006. This was in line with the Department of Health’s ‘Improving Outcomes Guidelines’ which recommended that centres for highly-specialised surgery should serve a population of at least one million people. The decision has the support of all clinicians across Essex.

Head and Neck includes surgery on any area of the face or head, including ear, nose and throat, but not the brain or eyes.

Broomfield Hospital was selected as it currently provides specialist services at the St. Andrew’s Regional Centre for Plastic Surgery and Burns. It has the facilities to deal with highly complex Head and Neck surgery. The majority of patients will continue to have their surgery at their local hospital. However, patients who require complex surgery and who need to remain in hospital for longer than 23 hours, will, from the 4th August, 2008, be treated at Broomfield Hospital. These patients will, wherever possible, be operated upon by their own Consultant who will continue to be responsible for their after care when they return to their local hospital.

Emergency ENT Services

Patients who have been assessed at their local Accident and Emergency Department and who need to be admitted from Basildon, Southend or Princess Alexandra Hospital, Harlow will be transferred to Broomfield Hospital for their in-patient care.

Ruth May, Chief Executive of Mid Essex Hospitals, said:” Centralising Head and Neck Surgery and Emergency Care at Broomfield Hospital is good news for patients as this means they will receive their treatment at a Regional Specialist Centre where they will be cared for by experts in this field however these patients will still attend their local hospital for non-complex surgery, Outpatient appointments and aftercare post-surgery.”

Changes for St. John’s Hospital – Elective / Emergency Care

From 4th August, 2008, only day-case ENT surgery (i.e.up to 23 hour stay) will be undertaken at St. John’s Hospital. All other surgery for adults and children will be carried out at Broomfield Hospital, also, from this date, all emergency admissions for adults and children will be admitted to Broomfield via A & E Dept. onto Wards B27 and B22 respectively.

Karen Cook, General Manager for Head and Neck Services can be contacted on 01245 516039 regarding questions or concerns about these changes.

ENDS

Media contact : Jo Triggs tel: (01245) 514235 | Mobile : 0790 005 4948