A new protected area in Tayside’s largest hospital is allowing urgent surgery to still go ahead during the pandemic.

While routine elective surgery is still paused in Scotland, urgent procedures for conditions such as cancer are going ahead after NHS Tayside staff created a new ‘green zone’ in Ninewells hospital in Dundee.

This “protective bubble” ensures patients are kept apart from areas in the hospital where covid-19 patients are being cared for.

It comes after one of the UK’s leading surgeons said it was essential that health boards in Scotland set up ringfenced hubs that focus on the most urgent surgeries, including cancer operations.

Wards and surgical theatres in the hospital’s west block have been designated as the green zone and patients coming in for operations are directed to a dedicated separate entrance for the area and met by one of the surgical team.

Before coming into hospital, patients have to isolate at home for two weeks to ensure they are free from coronavirus. During this time, patients are supported by NHS Tayside’s pre-assessment team who ensure that they receive food and medicines by linking with community volunteers.

Dietitians and physiotherapists are also on hand to support patients so they are in the best possible physical condition before their surgery.

“By creating this Green Zone, we are effectively creating a protective bubble around these patients,” says Dr Pamela Johnston, Associate Medical Director, Surgical Care Division.

“It is so important that we protect them as much as we can as they have put in so much effort to get themselves ready for surgery. We want them and their families to be reassured that we have planned and prepared very carefully to minimise risk when they come to hospital.

“Measures are in place to minimise footfall in the zone to only those staff who need to be there. Staff working in the zone are using the appropriate PPE and observing the two metre physical distancing rules.

“As with all of our staff, they will also be continually monitoring themselves for coronavirus symptoms before coming to work.”

This re-zoning of NHS Tayside hospitals follows on from the ‘hospital within a hospital’ which has already been created in Ninewells to care for coronavirus patients separately from other hospital patients, and changes made in Perth Royal Infirmary where work is also underway to prepare another green zone.

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