The South West Ambulatory Orthopaedic Centre (SWAOC) has hit another major milestone today, as it completed its 1,000th knee/hip replacement since opening at the Nightingale in March 2022.

Frankie Wilson from Sidmouth, who received the 1,000th replacement, said: “I feel honoured to have helped the Nightingale hit this milestone, and coming here has been a great experience. I’ve had pain from my left knee for about two years now, so to be able to look forward to that stopping and not having to use two sticks anymore is wonderful. I’ve been really impressed with the facilities here and just how efficient everything is. The staff are all amazing, and the peace and quiet is just what you need to help with your recovery.”

The centre, one of only eight elective surgical hubs in the country to have been GiRFT accredited and recognised nationally for its high clinical and operational standard, has also expanded its services to include hindfoot and soft-tissue knee operations.

As well as SWAOC, the other services provided at the Nightingale have also been reaching important milestones and expanding their services. Over 75,000 people across Devon have now accessed these state-of-the-art facilities in the last 12 months, helping to further reduce waiting times in the region for certain procedures.

The Centre of Excellence for Eyes (CEE), which is delivering diagnostic outpatient services and cataract surgery, is now taking patients from Torbay and is also planning to expand to a five-day service, meaning more people across Devon will be able to access these services more rapidly than before.

The Devon Diagnostic Centre (DDC), which provides medical imaging services, saw over 50,000 patients from across Devon in the past year, helping to get people diagnosed earlier and ease pressures on departments in local hospitals. The services will also be investing in new equipment to allow for additional types of procedures.

Chris Tidman, Deputy Chief Executive Officer at the Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, said: “We know a lot of people in Devon are still waiting too long for their treatment, but NHS partners across the region are working closely together to bring down that number, with a focus on maximising efficiency and making best use of our collective resources.

“The Nightingale is an incredible asset for the region, and it’s amazing to see the positive and ground-breaking work being done there to help reduce these waiting times and improve the lives of people across Devon who will benefit from these vital operations and services.”

The NHS Nightingale Hospital Exeter originally opened as a COVID-19 hospital to support the country’s response to the first wave of the pandemic. After being decommissioned as a COVID hospital, the Nightingale was purchased by organisations across the South West and in May 2021, it was announced that the Nightingale would receive a share of national funding to support the reduction in waiting times. The Nightingale is now able to offer a range of orthopaedic, ophthalmology, diagnostic and rheumatology services to local people.

Left image: Frankie Wilson, pictured before his surgery | Right image: The 1,000th hip/knee replacement taking place