NNUH best in the country for emergency surgery outcomes
Emergency abdominal surgery at our hospital has been rated amongst the best in the country following the publication of a national report.
The work of the surgical and anaesthetic teams at NNUH has been highlighted as an area of best practice for quality of care with the best outcomes in the country for emergency bowel surgery patients in the latest National Emergency Laparotomy Audit (NELA).
The audit is carried out annually by the Royal College of Anaesthetist’s Centre for Research and Improvement, Royal College of Surgeons and Healthcare Quality Improvement Partnership.
The latest report, which compared hospital care and outcomes of patients undergoing emergency laparotomy between April 2023 and April 2024, singled out NNUH and Stepping Hill Hospital in Stockport as having some of the best outcomes in England and Wales.
The tenth NELA report examined care received by 23,560 NHS patients in 176 hospitals across England and Wales admitted for emergency laparotomy. Nationally, the audit found that 30-day mortality fell to the lowest level in ten years – 8.1% compared to 11.7% in the first year. Length of hospital stay following emergency surgery also fell from 11 days to 10 days in a space of a year.
An emergency laparotomy is an operation carried out for some of the sickest patients who have suffered major abdominal problems and need surgery to survive. Common examples of this include blockages or perforations in the intestine.
NNUH is one of the busiest hospitals in the country for this type of surgery with more than 300 emergency laparotomies performed per year with a 30 day mortality of 4.8%.
Bernard Brett, Medical Director, said: “This is great news as it represents a national acknowledgement of the excellent work we do as a hospital in emergency surgical care. It reflects how well we work together across departments, including the Emergency Department, the Same Day Emergency Care (Surgical) unit and Radiology in making a timely diagnosis and decision. The importance of rapid access to theatre, the great anaesthetic, critical care, and post op care on the wards, and good surgical decision making across the pathway.”
Nick Sauders, Consultant Anaesthetist and Service Director for Anaesthetics said: “We were delighted to see our service recognised nationally in the NELA report. It reflects the importance we place on ensuring these complex patients receive the best possible care form highly qualified staff 24 hours a day.”
Nicholas Penney, Consultant Oesophagogastric Surgeon and General Surgery Service Director, added: “This is fantastic news that we are one of the top performing hospitals in the country for emergency general surgery care and we achieve such great outcomes for this critically unwell group of patients. It is testament to the hard work and dedication of the whole surgical team as well as our emergency, anaesthetic, critical care, and radiology colleagues. Particular thanks goes to Mr Michael Lewis for his tireless dedication as NELA lead over many years.”
Read the report in full National Emergency Laparotomy Audit (NELA) | The Royal College of Anaesthetists