The Enhanced Recovery Programme for Colorectal Surgery

Location: Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust
Grantholder: Mr Andrew Williams, Consultant Surgeon, Colorectal, GI and Vascular Service Delivery Unit, Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust
Award: £169,500
Start date: 01/10/2006

Project intentions:

To optimise clinical outcomes by utilizing the best evidence based principles of enhanced recovery including surgical and perioperative management, advanced pain control, enhanced nutrition and patient-focused individually tailored rehabilitation.
To enhance the pre-operative assessment of colorectal surgical patients through a flexible, modern and multidisciplinary approach which aims to limit pre and post-operative mortality and morbidity.
To place Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust at the forefront of clinical innovation and excellence in the field of colorectal surgery.
To significantly reduce length of stay in hospital by improving the entire patient pathway, without increasing morbidity and mortality.
To improve the patient experience by creating a seamless, integrated service which manages the complexity that colorectal surgery brings.

Benefits: An Enhanced Recovery Programme has been fully implemented, led and co-ordinated by a dedicated ERP nurse. This nurse has been responsible for embedding the programme into the unit’s policies and practices and the greatest testament to her success in achieving this is that the programme continues when she is not on duty.

Team hopes to produce evidence of cost savings through reduced inpatient stay with no increased morbidity and mortality.

Contact for further information: Mr Andrew Williams, Consultant Surgeon, Andrew.Williams@gstt.nhs.uk Ms Marie Ellwood, ERP Nurse Marie.Ellwood@gstt.nhs.uk