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'Keep fit over Christmas' plea to patients on operation waiting lists

Patients can work with their GP to keep healthy for upcoming operations <i>(Image: Pixabay)</i>
Patients can work with their GP to keep healthy for upcoming operations (Image: Pixabay)

People on operation waiting lists this winter are being urged to maintain their healthy lifestyles over the festive period.

Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care Board’s Set for Surgery system allows GP surgeries to link with hospitals to give patients specific areas to improve on before their operation.

It has been rolled out county wide this month after a successful trial, and will be key to keeping people in good shape for procedures over Christmas.

People who are a healthy weight and non-smokers recover better from surgery and have better quality of life post-operation, but during Christmas people may be tempted to indulge in a less healthy lifestyle while they wait.

On the Set for Surgery website, there are signposts for those on waiting lists to health services and advice to support them pre-op.

Wendy Craig, a surgeon in Morecambe and the programme lead, said: "We know over-indulging can be tempting over the Christmas period, but patients who are healthier have improved surgical outcomes and also require less follow-up treatment and interventions from the NHS.

“Following the Set For Surgery programme benefits both patients and the health service.”

When a patient is referred for treatment, the hospital or treatment provider uploads information on how the patient can get healthier for their surgery to a dashboard.

Across the county 94 per cent of doctors’ surgeries are signed up to the agreement and have access to the dashboard to work with patients.

Dr David Wrigley, from Ash Trees Surgery in Carnforth, said: “Set for Surgery has been a huge success.

“Some patients have lost a few stone in weight, blood sugar levels have fallen and many are now fit and able to have their surgery which is safer for them as they are healthier pre-operatively.

“This shows how general practice and hospital colleagues can work closely together for the benefit of our patients and I hope we can undertake more projects like this.”

Andy Knox, associate medical director at Lancashire and South Cumbria ICB, added: “As a GP I've seen first-hand the benefit to both patients and colleagues with this new approach, and improving the health of patients on the waiting list will have a knock-on effect to their overall health following surgery.

“The steps patients take can be replicated with-in family groups and improve the health of our region.”