A new unit has opened at the Northumbria Specialist Emergency Care Hospital (NSECH) to help tackle NHS backlogs and ensure pressure on A&E doesn't hit those waiting for planned operations.
Most of the planned procedures scheduled at the Northumbria Healthcare NHS Trust take place at Hexham, North Tyneside and Wansbeck hospitals which leaves NSECH in Cramlingto n to deal with emergency care - but this is not always the case. Now a new "procedures unit" which will provide a purpose-built space for non-emergency cases.
Previously this kind of procedure - which can be minor surgery, procedures needing a CT scan or in specialities like gynaecology and cardiology - took place in the hospital's ambulatory care unit. But now, the new facility will mean that space there will be freed up for emergencies.
