Pontefract Hospital’s surgical hub gets national accreditation | News

Pontefract Hospital’s orthopaedic surgical hub has been awarded national NHS England accreditation for delivering high‑quality clinical care and operational standards for patients. 

The GIRFT (Getting It Right First Time) national quality assessment scheme is delivered in partnership with the Royal College of Surgeons of England and the Royal College of Anaesthetists, and accreditation is a highly sought after quality mark.  

MY Elective Orthopaedic Hub offers quicker access to many of the most frequently performed orthopaedic surgical procedures, such as hip and knee replacements, with dedicated capacity protected for planned operations. 

Because these hubs operate separately from emergency services, their surgical beds remain reserved for patients awaiting scheduled procedures, helping to minimise the risk of last-minute cancellations.

The GIRFT team visited Pontefract Hospital’s surgical hub on 16 March to evaluate the services there including the patient pathway, staff and training, clinical governance and outcomes, facilities and ring-fencing, and utilisation and productivity.

A decision was made by that team on 20 May that the hub should be awarded GIRFT accreditation. 

Mr James Newman, Clinical Service Unit Director for Trauma and Orthopaedics, and Consultant Knee Surgeon, at Mid Yorkshire Teaching NHS Trust, said: “Achieving GIRFT accreditation is a significant milestone for our service and the culmination of five years of sustained work to transform and strengthen elective orthopaedic care.

“This has been a long and at times challenging journey that began with a clear ambition to build a service delivering consistently high-quality, efficient and patient-centred care aligned with national best practice. I am proud to have initiated and led this programme over the past five years, but this achievement has only been possible through the commitment, resilience and professionalism of colleagues across our clinical, operational and support teams.

“What makes this recognition particularly meaningful is that it reflects not a single initiative, but years of collective effort, continuous improvement and determination to do things better for our patients. This accreditation reinforces Mid Yorkshire’s position as a leader in elective orthopaedic care and our role in supporting improvements across the wider NHS.”

Richard Robinson, Chief Medical Officer at Mid Yorkshire Teaching NHS Trust, said: “We are delighted to receive this accreditation, which recognises the excellent high‑quality care provided to our patients by our surgical hub team at Pontefract. Creating a dedicated space for planned procedures allows us to work more efficiently, streamline patient pathways and deliver a better overall experience.”

Professor Tim Briggs, GIRFT programme lead and NHS England’s National Director for Clinical Improvement and Elective Recovery, said: “GIRFT’s focus is on developing surgical hubs, with the aim of improving patient flow so that patients have shorter waits for surgery, will be more likely to be able to go home on the same day, and have a better patient experience. 

“We want to provide the assurance for patients and staff that these sites are delivering safe and high-quality care now and will continue to accelerate their progress and productivity in the future.”

Pontefract Hospital’s surgical hub is one of 83 hubs accredited since the scheme began in March 2023. GIRFT is running quarterly cohorts to accredit all 125 hubs currently in operation across the NHS in England.