Controversial plans for orthopaedic centre approved

colchester orthopaedic centre
Plans approved for £44 million centre Credit: East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust

Plans have been approved for a £44 million orthopaedic centre at Colchester hospital.

The move is seen as controversial as it means orthopaedic surgery at Ipswich hospital will stop. People from Ipswich and east Suffolk will have to travel to Colchester for planned operations like hip and knee replacements. 

The centre is due to open in 2024. It will have 48 inpatient beds and six specialist operating theatres.  The hospital trust says it will mean fewer cancelled operations and shorter waiting times for surgery. 

Every patient will stay at the centre while having their surgery, while all other care before and after the operation – such as x-rays, pre-assessments and physiotherapy – will be provided at either Colchester or Ipswich hospital, depending on which is closest to their home. Emergency orthopaedic surgery will also continue at the patient’s nearest hospital.

The move will amalgamate planned orthopaedic surgery at Ipswich and Colchester hospitals Credit: ITV Anglia

Nick Hulme, ESNEFT chief executive, said: “We are absolutely delighted that these exciting plans have been approved today. We will now be able to develop first-class facilities to match the first-class clinical care which our patients who need hip or knee surgery receive.

“The new orthopaedic centre will benefit thousands of patients every year by increasing capacity and helping to reduce waiting times, which means people will not be left in pain for longer than is absolutely necessary. This will be vitally important as our population – and particularly our ageing population – continues to grow, and demand for hip and knee surgery increases.

“While we appreciate that some people may have concerns about travelling to the centre, we would stress that only their surgery will take place at the centre, with all other care both before and after arranged at their local hospital. At the same time, we are continuing to work closely with our commissioners, councils and Healthwatch representatives as part of a travel working group, which has been specifically set up to advise on access to a range of health and wellbeing services, including the new centre.”