Helping make sure our people in Barnsley are prepared for surgery

NHS front line staff at Barnsley Hospital have worked relentlessly throughout the past couple of years and are continuing to work hard to support our local people. Between April 2021 and May 2022, they have successfully reduced the number of people waiting over 52 weeks for surgery by almost 85%.

Barnsley is in a strong position compared to the rest of South Yorkshire and wider UK. We recently hit targets set out by NHS England to eliminate two year waits by July 2022, and we are on target to eliminate 78 week waits ahead of April 2023.

The team at the hospital are continuing to increase surgical capacity and the recent opening of the £3 million Community Diagnostics Centre in The Glass Works will provide a space to get much needed phlebotomy, ultrasound, breast screening and x-ray appointments. This will make sure people in Barnsley can receive earlier diagnosis, treatment and surgery if required.

We understand that for those waiting for surgery it can feel like an uncertain time. The best way for people to prepare for surgery is by making sure they are as healthy as they can be, this will help reduce the risk of complications following treatment and support them to recover whilst also benefiting their long-term health.

This is why health partners working in Barnsley have created a dedicated online space that provides advice for those waiting for surgery. This can be found by visiting: https://www.barnsleyhospital.nhs.uk/patients/get-fitter-for-surgery/

If you know anyone who is concerned about surgery, whether it is yourself, a member of your family, a colleague, or a member of the public, we urge you to visit this webpage as it provides advice and localised information of what services you might be able to access here in Barnsley. This includes initiatives like Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council’s What’s Your Move programme which can help people to become more active: http://www.barnsleywhhatsyourmove.co.uk.