Rochdale surgical unit treats over 1,000 cancer patients during pandemic

Since 30 March 2020, over 1,000 surgical procedures have been performed at Rochdale Infirmary for cancer patients from across Greater Manchester.

Rochdale Infirmary was chosen as the site for a cancer surgical unit by Greater Manchester Cancer Service at the start of lockdown, as with a reduced attendance for emergencies for Covid-19 patients, it was deemed a lower risk hospital for cancer patients to attend and offer treatment safely.

John Morgan from Middleton was one of the first patients identified as a user of the service and was scheduled to have his sigmoidoscopy at Rochdale Infirmary.

The 49-year-old was diagnosed with significant bowel cancel in October 2019 and had undergone a series of medical treatments including colonoscopies, biopsies, and CT scans. Between Christmas and New Year, he started 5 weeks of chemotherapy and radiotherapy; letting his treatment work for ten weeks before he could find out if it was successful.

It was at this time when the pandemic struck the UK, lockdown began, and his original review bowel examination was cancelled.

Greater Manchester Cancer Service set about putting in place a surgical unit to support, manage and treat any urgent cancer patients.

The service set up was a unique collaboration between Rochdale Infirmary, The Christie, BMI Highfield nurses and healthcare assistants alongside the Royal Oldham Hospital and North Manchester General surgery teams. They were brought together to offer a full complimentary cancer service treating breast, general surgery, gynaecology, plastics, and urology cancers. The service runs six theatres five days each week and a seven-day in-patient ward.

Creating Rochdale as the surgical unit cancer centre helped to ease the pressure on other acute hospital sites across Greater Manchester by offering patients to attend for a range of urgent cancers for diagnosis, treatment, surgery and overnight stays, with the exception of any major surgery that required intensive care support.

 

 

John said: “From the day I was contacted by my surgeon, Mr Siddique, to come into hospital I felt relieved that I was being treated. Before I attended, I was given all the covid safety measures that would take place including my attendance with only three other patients in the unit to ensure social distancing and the lockdown rules. Although my appointment took longer than normal, I was pleased at being seen and in safe hands.”

John’s scope showed that his tumour had shrunk but still needed removing which was scheduled straight away and Mr Siddique and his team undertook a bowel resection at the Royal Oldham Hospital.

He added: “I feel like I was one of the lucky ones, as soon as I was part of the Rochdale system I was contacted by the colorectal nurses who gave me lots of support, reassurance and information and offered me the opportunity to ring back at any time if I had any worries.

“Although my treatment was slightly delayed, I knew I had not been neglected and want to thank Mr Siddique, his team and all the staff at the Rochdale cancer centre for looking after me. I cannot fault the NHS from start to finish despite my treatment and surgery taking place during the Covid pandemic lockdown.”

Colorectal Surgeon Mr Siddique said: “Working together with these other hospital teams at a pressurised time brought out the best collaboration for all our patients. We were working in a new way in unprecedented times which included wearing of full PPE, additional training in Covid-19 safety measures and managing the necessity of a full clean of the theatre to ensure infections were kept to a minimum.  The effort made on behalf of all the staff involved was exceptional, we made sure all our urgent cancer patients still had a treatment plan in place and were not left to worry.”

Rochdale Infirmary has always carried out day case surgery, including some cancer related procedures but during the pandemic key Infirmary staff were redeployed to Fairfield General to manage Covid-19 patients for the region, resulting in staff from BMI Highfield coming to work at Rochdale Infirmary. As the lockdown has been lifted, each of the teams have been redeployed back to their original hospitals and Rochdale Infirmary surgical unit has continued to treat Greater Manchester cancer patients.