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Mid Essex Hospital Services NHS Trust
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Monday 21 May 2012
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Specialist Surgery, Head and Neck

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.

Head and Neck Centralisation
Q and A’s

 

Q. Will my surgery be performed by my own consultant?
A. Yes, whenever possible your own consultant will travel to Broomfield hospital to perform your operation.

 

Q.  Where will I attend for my outpatient appointments?
A.  All of your outpatient appointments will take place at your local hospital.

 

Q.  Why is head and neck surgery being centralised at Broomfield Hospital?
A.  This is part of the “Improving Outcomes Guidance” to establish centres of excellence for certain surgical procedures.   It means that all of the expertise can be centralised in one place which will improve the outcome for the patient.  It will also mean that there is always a head and neck specialist doctor on call, 24 hours a day.

 

Q.  Why has Broomfield Hospital been chosen as the specialist centre for head and neck surgery?
A.  Broomfield Hospital houses the St Andrews unit for plastic surgery and burns which already has specialist clinical teams and specialist equipment that can be used for head and neck procedures. 

 

Q. Will all head and neck patients be treated at Broomfield Hospital?
A.  No, not all patients will be treated at Broomfield, only those whose procedure requires them to stay in hospital more than 23 hours.  For those patients who need radiotherapy or chemotherapy, these will be delivered at the local hospital.

 

Q.  If a patient is admitted as a medical emergency needing head and neck surgery, will they automatically be transferred to Broomfield Hospital?
A.  No, the patient will stay at their local hospital until they are well enough to travel before being transferred to Broomfield.

 

Q.  If I need day surgery will this be affected?
A.  No, any head and neck day surgery will still take place at your local hospital.

 

Q.  What ward will I be treated on at Broomfield Hospital?
A.  Ward B27 (Adult) and B22 (Children) is the dedicated ward for head and neck patients and the place where you will stay.