A mother and daughter who have both been treated at the new Lancashire Elective Centre at Burnley General Teaching Hospital have praised the facility for its high level of care in a pleasant environment.

Rokiya Laher, aged 65, was one of the first patients to be treated at East Lancashire NHS Hospital Trust’s new Lancashire Elective Centre.

The Centre allows medical and surgical patients to be treated side-by-side by a team of highly trained and multi-skilled nurses.

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The purpose-built unit is part of the trust’s long term commitment to Burnley General Teaching Hospital to ensure patients and staff benefit from modern and state-of-the-art facilities in the heart of East Lancashire.

As well as allowing patients to be treated in a more pleasant and relaxed environment, the new facility allows the flexibility of patients being treated as either day cases or stay overnight if needed and this reduces the need for acute admissions to the Royal Blackburn Hospital site.

The Lancashire Elective Centre was officially opened on Wednesday December 6 by the Mayor of Burnley Howard Baker together with Rokiya Laher.

Mrs Laher, who is married to Ismail and has six children and 10 grandchildren, was admitted to the centre at 7am on the day of opening to undergo keyhole surgery on her knee.

She was delighted to be able to return home to her family that evening rather than having to stay overnight and says the centre was less intimidating as it did not feel like a hospital.

Mrs Laher said: “I had found that all of a sudden when I was walking, my knee would give way and I would fall.

“This was happening three or four times a week so I began using a walking stick.

“One day, my knee was causing me such severe pain, I went to the doctor and I was sent for X-rays and scans at Royal Blackburn Hospital.

“They told me my knee had been dislocated and I also had arthritis in the knee and I needed an operation.”

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Mrs Laher was told she could have keyhole surgery on her knee at the new Lancashire Elective Centre and she says she was highly satisfied with her treatment and care.

She said: “The new centre was very modern, quiet and private and it did not feel like a hospital so was not as frightening. The nurses and staff were all really friendly and it was a very smooth experience.

“I was relieved to be able to go home that same day as I wanted to go home and be comfortable with my family in familiar surroundings.”

Daughter Sameea says she was impressed at the dignified and caring way in which her mother was treated.

She said: “My mum’s English is not that good and she was even given an interpreter who was with her throughout the procedure so she knew what was going on and felt at ease.

“Her knee is much better and she is no longer in pain or having falls.”

Sameea, 36 is married with three children, has also experienced treatment first-hand at the Lancashire Elective Centre.

Sameea, who works for Blackburn and Darwen Council’s children services, said: “I am severely anaemic and I come to the centre for regular iron transfusions when my iron levels become too low. The new infusion suite is much nicer and is modern and has a calm and relaxed environment.

“I particularly like the fact that I am in a reclining chair rather than a hospital bed as it stops me feeling like an ‘ill person.’

“I don’t want to be thought of as ill and I now feel like I am just coming in for a quick procedure.

“Both myself and my mum have had a very positive experience of the new Lancashire Elective Centre.”

Julie Crook, assistant transformation manager, added: “It is fantastic for patients to get admitted, go for their procedure and recover all in the same unit.

“For continuity of care, it is brilliant and it is less stressful for the patient.

“Anything we can do to reduce anxiety is a good thing.

“The elective centre by its very layout mean everything is a lot more contained and closer together so it is a smoother journey for the patient.”

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Senior Sister Vikki McLoughlin, manager of the elective centre, said: “This is the first unit of its kind in the UK and is for medical and surgical patients.

“Before this unit, day surgery used to be open until 8pm and only did very minimal surgery.

“If a patient goes home within 23 hours and 59 minutes, it is still classed as a day case.

“This new elective centre prevents acute admissions to the Royal Blackburn site and the patients really like it as they have direct access, are reviewed regularly and it prevents them from having to be in an acute setting.”

Professor Eileen Fairhurst, chairman at East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust, said: “This centre is the first of its kind in the country and is something unique.

“With it, we will be able to provide an even better service for all of the people of East Lancashire who we serve.

“Patients have privacy and dignity and staff have better working conditions and can give patients a much better and personalised service.”

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Rob Salaman, deputy divisional director for surgery and anaesthetics and consultant vascular surgeon at East Lancashire NHS Hospitals Trust, said: “The concept of this unit came about a few years ago.

“We saw under-used potential at Burnley Hospital and we needed a facility that could deliver quality and speediness of care.

“It is a fantastic facility and we are already using it well.

“One of the best things for patients with this centre is that everything is all in one place and it is more flexible as patients can either be treated as a day patient or say overnight.

“Patients who come in for routine surgery are treated in a calmer and more relaxed environment which is nicer for staff and definitely nicer for patients.”