A Scots man who had a hip replacement walked out of hospital just six hours after his operation thanks to a pioneering treatment.
Raymond Wheatley, from Dundee, was the first patient in Tayside to have the procedure as a day case walking out of Stratcathro hospital with crutches after the op.
Patients typically spend at least three days in hospital after having hip replacement surgery.
The 54-year-old praised medics after he was able to walk unaided just days after receiving his new hip.
Raymond said: “It was great to know I would get home on the same day as I’ve never been in hospital before and didn’t want to stay if in I could avoid it.
"I’m really glad to be home and in my own bed. I’m even able to get about the house quite easily already and do things for myself without any help.
“I was really nervous before the operation and dreading it but everyone in the hospital couldn’t have been nicer, they really put me at ease and in the end it wasn’t as bad as I thought.”
This new approach for hip replacement surgery has been brought to the region by consultant orthopaedic surgeon Mr Graeme Nicol.
It means that patients can have their surgery and be back on their feet and discharged home the same day.
Mr Nicol carries out hip replacement surgery using an approach which does not involve cutting any muscle, as is the case in the traditional hip operations.
This means that the patient does not have as much bleeding or pain and allows a much quicker recovery time and easier pain management.
Patients can expect to be able to walk without crutches two weeks following their surgery.
Hard-pressed hospitals also don't have to bear the burden of an extra patient during a time when the coronavirus is still making an impact.
Mr Nicol, originally from Tayside, trained in Ninewells before moving to Ottawa in Canada where he spent a year being taught this new approach to surgery.
Following a period working in Bristol, he has now returned to Tayside where he will be training colleagues in the technique.
It is hoped that up to three patients a day could be treated as day cases in Stracathro Hospital and Perth Royal Infirmary once training is complete and services are able to fully remobilise.
Mr Nicol said: “Since my return to Tayside in August, I have had great support from colleagues who have worked with me to develop a pathway to manage post-operative pain and enhance patient recovery.
"It would not have been possible to set up this service without the support and engagement of our orthopaedic waiting list staff, theatre staff and ward staff including nursing, physiotherapy, occupational therapy and pharmacy and I would like to thank them all.
“The benefits of this exciting new approach are huge for both our patients and our services.
"We are already working really hard to see as many people as possible, but over time, this will allow us to treat more people and further reduce our waiting lists. I look forward to treating many more patients in this way as the service develops.”
NHS Tayside Chief Executive, Grant Archibald said, “Throughout the pandemic, our teams have worked incredibly hard to keep as many services running as possible. This has meant thinking about how we can do things differently to address the dual challenges of COVID and the impact winter has on our NHS.
“This new approach to surgery in Tayside is just one example of the innovative work that teams are driving forward.
“The past 20 months have been extremely demanding for the NHS but teams across Tayside continue to deliver excellent services for their patients and find new ways of providing care and treatment for the people of Tayside.
“I’m delighted that this first for Tayside has been delivered at Stracathro which is key to the future delivery of healthcare in Tayside. It remains our firm intention that we will treat more patients on the site in the future as we press ahead with remobilisation of elective services.”
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