Nuffield Health Bristol reveals length-of-stay down over a third

New data released by Nuffield Health Bristol Hospital, The Chesterfield shows the length-of-stay for orthopaedic surgery has declined by forty per cent in the past decade. The figures relate to patients undergoing a total hip or knee replacement.

The length-of-stay for a total hip replacement has declined 42 per cent from an average six night stay in 2006 to three-and-a-half nights in 2016. For total knee replacement the decline has been equally as dramatic, down from 5.8 nights in 2006 to 3.5 nights in 2016, a reduction of 40 per cent.

Sheryl Krause, Hospital Director at Nuffield Health Bristol Hospital, said: “The past ten years have seen changes in the technology and techniques used for orthopaedic surgery which have reduced the need for lengthy hospital stays and improved recovery times. Incisions have become smaller and there has been a reduction in the amount of trauma to the area around the joint by leaving tendons intact and sparing tissue.”

Nuffield Health Bristol Hospital has been performing orthopaedic surgery for over fifty years and in 2016, helped improve the lives of more than 1,000 patients through orthopaedic interventions.

Mr Nick Howells, Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon, said: “In Bristol we see patients with all sorts of conditions each year; people with arthritis following sports injuries, those who have developed painful joints due to osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis and those with congenital abnormalities. The types of treatments we’re able to provide have evolved dramatically from a generation ago.”

To support patients’ onward speedy recovery, Nuffield Health’s Bristol Hospital and gym last year joined forces to launch Recovery Plus, a unique programme aimed at improving long-term fitness and wellbeing for surgical patients, including those who have undergone hip and knee replacement.  To date, over 150 people have benefitted from the combination of personalised and focused rehabilitation, nutrition and exercise.

Mr Howells continued: “Many patients who come in for surgery have been living with reduced fitness and mobility and are often suffering from related illness like obesity or high blood pressure.  Recovery Plus provides a stepping stone from hospital to help people get back to their daily routine, as well as helping to prevent future hospital visits by increasing their overall fitness and wellbeing.”