12:22pm Tuesday 11th September 2007
A NEW centre for patients having planned surgery such as knee or hip replacements has opened at St Albans City Hospital.
The new facilities, used for people across west Hertfordshire, have opened on an interim basis, but health chiefs hope to make them permanent.
West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust's medical director Graham Ramsay said: "The new elective care centre will mean less disruption because planned operations will be separate from emergency treatment, so operations won't be cancelled because surgeons unexpectedly have to deal with an emergency.
"It also means better infection control because patients will be screened for infection before being admitted."
Chairman of the St Albans District Council health committee Jenny Stroud said: "We now have five of the best quality theatres in west Hertfordshire - we want to keep them."
The long-term future of the new centre, which could move to Hemel Hempstead, depends on a current consultation ending on October 1.
Bosses also want to expand the hospital's existing minor injuries unit into an "urgent care centre" dealing with all but the most serious casualty patients.
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