A Game-Changer for Cornwall? St Austell Surgical Hub Sees Over 500 Patients in Just 3 Months

A new elective surgical hub at St Austell Community Hospital is already making waves in Cornwall’s healthcare system, delivering vital procedures closer to home and reducing waiting lists. The £15 million facility has seen over 500 patients since its opening in October 2024 and aims to perform up to 5,000 day surgeries annually.

Celebrating a Milestone

On Tuesday 14th January, NHS staff, local councillors, and key delivery partners came together to mark the formal opening of the state-of-the-art St Austell Surgical Hub. With two operating theatres, four recovery bays, and six pre-op assessment rooms, the modular building provides much-needed capacity for services like ophthalmology and gynaecology.

Steve Williamson, Chief Executive of Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust, led the ribbon-cutting ceremony, praising the facility for its impact on Cornwall’s healthcare.

“It is really important to local people that depending on the surgical procedure they need, some of them are able to receive that procedure here in St Austell. Many patients who live in mid, north and east Cornwall can receive their care here rather than travelling to the Royal Cornwall Hospital or Derriford Hospital in Plymouth,” Steve said.

“At a time of great challenge for the NHS with significant pressure on our waiting lists, it is fantastic to have these two additional operating theatres to help us address that.”

A Collaborative Effort

The project is a joint venture between Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust, and NHS Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Integrated Care Board (ICB). Debbie Richards, Chief Executive of Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, highlighted the significance of the collaboration, linking the hub’s success to other recent advancements like the community diagnostic centre in Bodmin.

“I am incredibly proud and excited to formally celebrate this collaboration between our two organisations,” Debbie said. “This is a great facility for all our staff… and has created a real buzz for people in the local community too.”

Debbie also dedicated the facility to Mark Duddridge, a former non-executive director of the Trust’s Board who passed away in May 2023. Mark’s wife Amber and sister Dawn joined the celebration, cutting the ribbon in his memory.

“It is with Mark’s help, steer, and guidance that we have developed these facilities,” Debbie said.

Easing Pressure on Cornwall’s NHS

John Groom, Relationship Director for Acute (Hospitals) at the ICB, expressed excitement about the hub’s potential to transform patient care.

“With the capacity to deliver up to an additional 5,000 day case surgeries annually, this facility will not only provide patients with timely access to high-quality care, but also plays a key role in reducing waiting times and easing the pressure on our wider healthcare system.”

For many patients, the hub means avoiding long trips to Treliske or Derriford, offering much-needed care closer to home.

Built for the Future

Constructed by ModuleCo, a company specialising in healthcare facilities, the hub was completed in under a year. ModuleCo’s expertise has been instrumental in bringing this facility to life, providing a high-tech solution to Cornwall’s healthcare challenges.

To learn more about the hub, visit the St Austell Surgical Hub webpage. For details about ModuleCo, click here.