3:30pm Wednesday 7th January 2009
HUNDREDS of patients in Dudley are set to benefit from a new hospital clinic which prepares them for the changes a hip or knee replacement can make to their daily lives.
Every year The Dudley Group of Hospitals Foundation Trust perform around 280 hip replacements and 450 knee replacements - with the operation on the increase.
The clinic, which was the idea of the Trust’s Nurse Consultant Gail Parsons, aims to provide information and advice about the risks and benefits of having a joint replacement, as well as the opportunity to speak to ‘expert patients’ who have already undergone the procedure.
Gail, who has worked for the Trust for nearly 30 years, said: “We understand that although a hip or knee replacement is quite a common procedure within the hospital, it is major surgery for the patient involved.”
She added: “We wanted to be able to reassure patients that they have our support every step of the way.”
One of the first patients to use the clinic since its launch in December was 88-year-old Kathleen Hovells from Halesowen, who is set to have a hip replacement.
She said: “I had my right knee replaced 16 years ago and my left eight years ago, and it is amazing what advances there have been since then.”
She added: “We never had anything like this clinic before and I think it is really good to come along and find out what to expect.”
The clinics will be held twice a week at the Guest Hospital. Patients will also have the opportunity to have a private appointment with one of the team to talk through any concerns they may have and can bring along a spouse or carer who can also find out more.
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