Plans to shake-up children's operations in Chesterfield

NHS plans could see parents and their youngsters travelling further than Chesterfield Royal Hospital for some children's operations.
Chesterfield Royal Hospital.Chesterfield Royal Hospital.
Chesterfield Royal Hospital.

Residents are being invited to comment on three proposals HERE. One would see children taken from Chesterfield to either Doncaster Royal Infirmary, Pinderfields General Hospital in Wakefield or Sheffield Children’s Hospital for the following kinds of surgery at night, at weekends or when they need to stay overnight:

• Ear, nose and throat

• General surgery (for conditions like appendicitis)

• Ophthalmology (for any condition of the eyes)

• Oral surgery (for any condition of the mouth or teeth)

• Orthopaedics (for any condition of the bones, muscles, nerves)

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• Urology (for any condition of the groin, genitals or bladder)

Dr Tim Moorhead, clinical chair and advisor to Commissioners Working Together, said: “Over the last 18 months we have been reviewing our children’s surgery and anaesthesia services and are now proposing changes to make sure all youngsters are able to get the best possible and safest care they deserve should they need an operation.

“For most services, most of the time, nothing will change but for a small number of unplanned operations, at night, at weekends or when children need to stay overnight in hospital, we are proposing they are done differently.”

Dr Des Breen, consultant anaesthetist and medical director for the Working Together programme, added: “If we use our services and staff in a different way, we will be able to care for children in a consistent way.

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“For some people, this may mean they will need to travel further than their local hospital for the services we’re proposing to change but it will also mean their child will receive consistently high-quality and safe care in the future.”

Residents are invited to share their views before January 20 next year – with a final decision made in February.