Surgical speciality nurses

The East Cheshire NHS Trust is committed to making sure that you receive the highest quality care during your stay in hospital and as part of that commitment new roles for senior nurses within the surgical teams were introduced in 2003. Macclesfield became one of the first trusts in the country to train and employ Perioperative Specialist Practitioners (PSP) and Surgical Care Practitioners (SCP).

Why were these roles introduced?

As part of the European Working Time Directive the NHS had to take steps to reduce junior doctor’s hours. It was accepted that many of the tasks undertaken by doctors could be carried out by other personnel after appropriate training.  

What does this training involve?

Our Perioperative Specialist Practitioners (PSPs) are all senior nurses, with many years experience who have undertaken a specialist course at St Mary’s Hospital in London (Imperial College). Our Surgical Care Practitioner (SCP) has also undertaken a specialist course at Manchester University so that she can work in theatres with the consultant and carry out small operations by herself. The nurses are all trained in special skills and have to take exams to make sure that they have a level of knowledge to be able to work alongside the doctors. During their training their consultant makes sure that they are able to perform skills that the doctors would usually do.

Where do these specialist nurses fit into the Surgical Team?

Each surgical team is headed by a consultant surgeon; there will also be other doctors in the team but they move around on a rotational basis, which means that the specialist nurses are always there to assist the consultant. The other doctors in the team include an associate specialist surgeon or specialist registrar and junior doctors, who are called Foundation 1 (F1) and Foundation 2 (F2) doctors. These doctors are qualified but are still training in the different areas of the hospital  

When will I meet a specialist nurse?

You may meet the specialist nurse attached to your consultant’s team at any time. They work in all areas of the hospital with other members of the team. This includes the Outpatient Department, the hospital wards, the endoscopy suite and the operating theatre. They will always introduce themselves and you are always able to ask them questions or if you prefer may ask to speak to one of the doctors.

What do these specialist nurses do?

They perform tasks or skills for which they have been trained. These tasks may involve asking questions about your health, performing examinations, taking blood samples, ordering tests and investigations and making sure that you are looked after before  and after your hospital admission. They will also explain procedures and operations to you, answer your questions and take consent for those procedures or operations.

Have the specialist nurses made any difference to patient care within the Surgical Unit?

We believe that these nurses have made a big difference to the care that we give to our patients; they provide continuity for the team who are responsible for planning the care our patients receive and understand what is needed. They do not move to other teams like the doctors do during their training. Some of our patients may be followed up for months or even years after treatment and these patients get to know the specialist nurses very well and feel confident that they will see the same person when they have to come back to the hospital. Our specialist nurses are friendly, approachable and will give you a contact number so that you can talk to them even you leave the hospital.

More information

Hospital switchboard: 01625 421000