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More capacity, same standards: expanding cataract surgery
When Newmedica needed to accommodate thousands of additional cataract patients without compromising its existing services, the answer was a mobile operating theatre at its Bristol Aztec West site.
For healthcare providers facing significant elective demand, the challenge is rarely as simple as finding another operating theatre. Capacity has to work as part of a complete clinical pathway. Patients need to be assessed, prepared, treated and discharged safely. Staff, equipment, consumables and support services must expand alongside physical capacity, while existing activity continues. That was the challenge facing Newmedica
after taking on a contract to treat NHS cataract patients. The scale was considerable. Around 7,000 additional patients would travel to Bristol, with patients attending at least twice, initially for an outpatient appointment and subsequently for surgery, and potentially again if treatment to the second eye was required. Julian Phillips, Operational Director at
Newmedica’s Bristol surgical centres, describes the challenge simply: “Bringing in another 7,000 patients needed a new way of thinking and a radical solution.” Newmedica needed to maintain services for its established patient population across Bristol and surrounding areas. Its existing theatres were already working close to capacity, making a significant increase in activity difficult without additional infrastructure. For Kevin Walsh, Head of Surgical Services
at Newmedica Bristol Aztec West, one consideration remained above every target for additional activity: “The numbers, the volume, the expectation were very high, and
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THE CLINICAL SERVICES JOURNAL
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Inside the mobile theatre
the predominant and primary objective was to remain safe.”
Creating capacity quickly The solution was to introduce a Vanguard mobile operating theatre at Newmedica’s Bristol Aztec West facility. The speed at which that capacity became available was significant. According to Phillips, the decision to proceed was made by 1 November and the first theatre patient was being treated by 21 November. Rapid deployment, however, did not mean bypassing the detailed preparation associated with establishing additional surgical capacity. Walsh and his colleagues had to consider
Vanguard provided clinical support during the initial operating period, including a clinical practitioner who worked alongside the local Newmedica team during the first few weeks.
everything – from microscopes, lenses and consumables to staffing, surgeon availability, IT, patient flow and contingency arrangements. Staff were given an opportunity to familiarise themselves with the facility before it went live. The Newmedica team in Bristol undertook dry runs through the patient pathway and introduced simulated problems to test how teams would respond. “Attention was given to every single detail... It is about having a careful risk management plan,” Walsh commented. Vanguard also provided clinical support during the initial operating period, including a clinical practitioner who worked alongside the local Newmedica team during the first few weeks. The result was that the additional theatre
did not operate as an isolated facility. It became part of the wider Aztec West service, with staffing, logistics, equipment and patient pathways integrated with the main site.
October 2026 I
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