Orthopaedic centre to 'significantly' cut wait times

A specialist surgical centre has opened which aims to "significantly reduce" waiting times for orthopaedic patients across the region.

The Sulis Orthopaedic Centre (SOC), located in Peasedown St John, just outside Bath, will perform an additional 3,000 planned orthopaedic operations on NHS patients every year.

It will help to significantly reduce waiting times for many patients lined up for operations, which include life-changing hip and knee replacements.

The SOC is a collaboration between Sulis and three local hospital trusts, known collectively as BSW Hospitals Group, and includes the Great Western Hospital in Swindon, the Royal United Hospital in Bath and the Salisbury Foundation Trust.

Cara Charles-Barks, the chief executive of BSW Hospitals Group, said: "We are really pleased to see the Sulis Orthopaedic Centre open its doors to patients.

"Not only will it make a real difference by reducing waiting times for orthopaedic surgery, but it will also help to safeguard our services from the increase in demand that we expect to see in the future."

The new centre will free up capacity at existing NHS facilities, with patients being cared for at Sulis immediately before and after their operations.

The surgeries and additional pre and post-operative appointments will take place at their local NHS hospital, as before.

Simon Milner, hospital director Sulis Hospital, said: "The opening of the Sulis Orthopaedic Centre, marks a significant and much-anticipated milestone.

"Working in partnership with the NHS enables us to give back to the local community in meaningful ways and we're excited to pioneer a new, collaborative approach to healthcare that benefits everyone."

Between April 2024 and March 2025, 750 operations were performed on NHS patients being treated at the RUH, using Sulis' surgical theatres.

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