A NEWLY established pop-up day unit has completed 100 day cases in just eight weeks since resuming surgical procedures after the coronavirus pandemic.

The unit at Scarborough Hospital has been created on the newly-refurbished Haldane Ward to resume urgent planned operations.

It took just four weeks to create from scratch, with social distancing and sanitising measures in place.

“We have been trying to establish a surgical day unit at Scarborough Hospital for a long time,” said Dr Amanda Vipond, consultant anaesthetist.

“We are delighted to be able to offer this to patients and it’s a real breakthrough for day surgery at Scarborough Hospital – it’s actually better than pre-coronavirus.”

The team incorporate extra safety precautions for day patients who have to be socially-distanced, and staff must wear PPE.

Patients are collected from the north entrance of the hospital where they have a temperature check at the door and are taken through to the unit after a debrief.

“We’re working very hard to make sure patients feel reassured and what they should expect,” added Claire Jackson, senior operating department practitioner.