Freeman Hospital, Newcastle Upon Tyne

General hospital information

  • Number of beds: 767
  • % of single rooms: 30%
  • Total parking spaces: N/A
  • Average parking fee per hour: N/A

Address & description

Freeman Hospital,
Freeman Road, High Heaton, Newcastle Upon Tyne, England, NE7 7DN
Tel: Work 0191 233 6161
Freeman Hospital

Welcome to the Freeman Hospital. Our services here range from general surgery, hip and knee replacement and digital hearing aids, through to the latest developments in restoring hearing or treating complex liver, pancreatic and kidney and heart related diseases and also the treatment of cancer.

In autumn 2011 the UK’s first Institute of Transplantation will be completed at the Freeman Hospital to provide the very best transplantation outcomes for patients and make increased use of donor organs. The new purpose built facilities will bring together all stages of transplantation as well as research and development – all under one roof. We already have an international reputation for our pioneering expertise in transplant surgery for both adults and children as the UK's first successful heart transplant for a child was undertaken at the Freeman Hospital in 1987.

The Freeman hospital is also one of Europe's leading lung transplant centres - having performed both the first single lung transplant and the first double lung transplant in Europe. We were also the first to introduce a 'mechanical heart' service in 2003, keeping adults and children alive until a suitable donor heart is available.

The Institute of Transplantation is one of the most exciting medical developments in North East England. The Freeman has a well-deserved reputation for the quality of its facilities and we take great care to ensure you are treated in a clean, modern, and friendly environment. Some of the unique facilities of the Freeman Hospital are outlined below: • We are the only hospital in the country to provide the full range of Cardiothoracic Surgery for adults and children, including heart and lung Transplantation under one roof. Our facilities include a specially equipped suite of four theatres with access to a large, state-of-the-art intensive care unit for adults, and a separate paediatric intensive care unit to care for children following heart or lung surgery. • The Northern Centre for Cancer Care was opened at the Freeman Hospital in 2009 as part of an ongoing £300m investment programme in The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. The state of the art centre provides specialist care for patients with cancer and kidney disorders. • The Sir Bobby Robson Cancer Trials Research Centre is at the forefront of research into cancer. It offers patients access to early trials and potential new treatments and works closely with the Imaging and Research Centre to improve the diagnosis and study the effects of new drugs, which are often “first in human” trials. The Centre works closely with the National Cancer Networks to ensure that patients get offered the best options for treatment. • The Regional Urology Centre is based at the Freeman Hospital which is recognised as having one of the top clinical research programmes in Europe. • A Specialist Sleep Studies Team - one of only a few in the UK - operates from the Freeman Hospital – caring for patients with a wide range of sleeping disorders. • Both the Newcastle Surgical Training Centre and the SIM Centre are located at the Freeman Hospital providing training of the highest quality to surgeons and healthcare professionals from the UK and Europe.

Quality Matters

In 2010 for the 10th consecutive year The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust won the prestigious CHKS Top Hospital award and was one of only five trusts in the UK to do so. No matter why you come to Newcastle Hospitals our staff are all dedicated to giving you healthcare at its very best – with a personal touch! For further information or to contact us, please visit: www.newcastle-hospitals.org.uk Please note: The Freeman Hospital does not have an A&E Department.

* this profile text was provided by The Newcastle Upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

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Services at Freeman Hospital

General Services Information

Hospital Questions

  • How many single rooms are available to NHS patients at this hospital: 222
  • Of these how many have an ensuite toilet: 123
  • Of these how many have an ensuite toilet and shower or bath: 123
  • Does this hospital operate an accident and emergency unit: No
  • How many specialist palliative care beds are available at this hospital: 0
  • Does this hospital have a named private unit/service: No

Trust Questions

  • Does the Trust treat private patients: Yes

Patient Safety

Trust Questions

  • Is there a system for recording operations that resulted in a foreign body being left post surgery: Yes
  • What is the reporting system for a foreign body being left post surgery: Datix web incident reproting
  • Is there a system for recording operations that were cancelled due to missing notes: Yes
  • What is the reporting system for operations that were cancelled due to missing notes: Datix web incident reporting system
  • Is there a system for recording operations that resulted in wrong site surgery taking place: Yes
  • What is the reporting system for operations that resulted in wrong site surgery taking place: Datix web incident reporting system
  • During the period 01 April 2010 - 31 March 2011, how many operations resulted in a foreign body being left post surgery: 0
  • During the period 01 April 2010 - 31 March 2011, how many operations were cancelled due to missing notes: 2
  • During the period 01 April 2010 - 31 March 2011, how many operations resulted in wrong site surgery taking place: 0
  • How many incident investigations using a full Root Cause Analysis did were carried out in 2010/11: 7770
  • What percentage of patient safety incidents resulting in severe harm or death had a full RCA initiated/completed: 100%
  • What percentage of acute inpatients have a track and trigger warning system in place for the duration of the admission: 100% commentswith the exception of critical care areas, theatres and recovery and coronary care(Freeman Hospital)
  • What percentage of patients are risk assessed for venous thromboembolism on admission: 91-99%
  • Compliant with all relevant NPSA safety alerts issues in 2010/11 (you can find a full list of alerts issued at http://www.nrls.npsa.nhs.uk/resources/?p=3). : Yes
  • Does the Trust have a policy for providing educational programmes on using and interpreting clinical indicators: Yes
  • Does the Trust have a designated member of staff who supports teams in locating and analysing safety and quality data? (support): Yes
  • Is safety and quality data available on a central platform and actively disseminated to users: Yes

Infection Control

Trust Questions

  • Does the Trust employ an antibiotic pharmacist: Yes
  • Does the Trust operate a pre-admission assessment clinic or equivalent system where patients are screened and results returned in advance of the day of admission: Yes
  • Elective patient groups screened at the pre-op assessment clinic: All elective surgical and medical
  • Are all oncology patients screened at the pre-op assessment clinic: YES
  • Are all chemotherapy patients screened at the pre-op assessment clinic: YES
  • Are all elective neurosurgery patients screened at the pre-op assessment clinic: YES
  • Are all patients with past history of MRSA screened at the pre-op assessment clinic: Yes
  • What method of MRSA screening is used when screening at admission: Culture based in 24-48hrs
  • On admission, does topical suppression take place immediately: No
  • Does the Trust have at least one accident and emergency unit: Yes
  • Are all patients admitted through A&E screened: Yes
  • Is screening done according to individual risk assessment: No
  • Does the Trust have a dedicated isolation ward: Yes
  • How many beds does it contain: 18
  • Does the Trust have an isolation policy: Yes
  • Where medically appropriate, are patients with C Diff isolated in single rooms as a matter of priority: Yes
  • Does the Trust have a policy to guide the use of metronidazole and vancomycin for C.difficile infected patients: Yes
  • Does the Trust routinely isolate all patients with diarrhoea: Yes

Stroke Medicine

Hospital Questions

  • Does the hsopital have a specialist stroke unit: No

Trust Questions

  • Does the Trust have a specialist stroke unit or units: Yes
  • Is the Trust part of a stroke care network: Yes
  • Details: The North East Cardiovascular Network
  • How many emergency admissions with a primary diagnosis of stroke (ICD10 codes I60 - I64) did the Trust receive in the financial year (period 01 April 2010 - 31 March 2011): 692
  • Of these, what was the number of patients given a Computerised Tomography (CT) scan within 24 hrs of admission: 664
  • Is thrombolysis for stroke patients provided 24 hours per day and 7 days a week : Yes
  • Are there any formal arrangements with neighbouring hospitals for the emergency transfer of stroke patients who would benefit from thrombolytic treatment: Yes
  • These arrangements are with: North East SHA

Trauma & Orthopaedics

Trust Questions

  • Does the Trust offer a trauma service: Yes
  • Does the Trust have a dedicated trauma list available 24 hours a day for the duration of the week, (Sunday to Sunday): Yes
  • Does the Trust offer an orthopaedics service: Yes
  • Do all the Trust's orthopaedic ward/team have a linked geriatric team with whom they have regular meetings at least once a week: Yes
  • Does the Trust run a pre-operative patient education session/class for patients to attend prior to Total Knee Replacement (TKR) and Total Hip Replacement (THR)? : Yes
  • What is the estimated percentage of all patients that attend the class prior to surgery: 80
  • Does the Trust have a standardised anaesthetic protocol for Total Knee Replacement (TKR) and Total Hip Replacement (THR) patients: No commentsHowever we do have a standardised protocol for enhanced recovery patients
  • Estimated percentage of the Trusts total knee replacement (TKR) and total hip replacement (THR) patients walk within 24 hours of surgery: 100
  • Does the Trust have a specialist orthopaedic physiotherapy service which is available 7 days a week: Yes
  • How many patients' discharge's delayed due to lack of physiotherapy services at weekends - estimated figure: 0
  • Are patients for total knee replacement (TKR) and total hip replacement (THR) admitted prior to the day of surgery: Yes
  • What is the principle reason for patients not being admitted on the day of surgery: patients are as DOSA unless exceptional circumstances where there is a clinical need e.g co morbidities
  • Are patient records routinely recorded using a specific multi-disciplinary team THR/TKR pathway document: Yes
  • Is this data used to monitor compliance with the agreed pathway: Yes
  • Is criteria-based discharge used: Yes
  • Are patients routinely phoned in the first 48 hours after discharge to check on their progress: Yes

Paediatrics

Hospital Questions

  • Does the hospital have a paediatrics service: Yes

Trust Questions

  • Is the Trust's elective paediatric surgery carried out only by designated surgeons with at least six months training in a specialist unit: Yes
  • Do the Trust's anaesthetists with responsibility for paediatric anaesthesia participate in at least one paediatric list per week: Yes
  • Is a paediatrician on site (SpR or higher) 24 hours per day, 7 days per week: Yes commentsRVI and FH site only
  • Are at least two registered children's nurses on duty 24hours per day in each children's ward: Yes
  • Is there a designated facility on site for parents or guardians to stay overnight: Yes

Palliative Care

Trust Questions

  • Does the Trust provide a palliative care service: Yes
  • How is specialist palliative care delivered at the hospital: A multi-disciplinary specialist palliative care team commentscovers community and acute
  • Does the hospital's specialist palliative team includes: A consultant in palliative medicine,A palliative care nurse,Other (please specify) commentstherapists and social work
  • Is the Trust's specialist palliative care team available 24 hrs a day seven days a week: No
  • Are facilities provided to support relatives and carers who wish to stay with a patient in hospital: Yes commentsopportunities are available for relatives to be able to stay if needed
  • Does the Trust routinely survey and evaluate the views of patients and bereaved relatives and carers regarding the delivery of care on the end of life programme: No

Maternity Care

Maternity Sites

  • Royal Victoria Infirmary - Midwife Led
  • How many women gave birth in the unit during the year? (not including home births): 3905
  • How many babies were born in the unit during the year? (not including home births): 3905
  • How many women were booked for a home birth: 50
  • How many women had a home birth? (not including births at home by accident): 35
  • Number of antenatal rooms: 0
  • Total antenatal beds: 0
  • Number of assessment area rooms (for monitoring and / or induction): 0
  • Total assessment area beds: 0
  • Number of delivery rooms: 12
  • Total delivery beds: 12
  • Number of postnatal rooms: 12
  • Total postnatal beds: 12
  • Number of rooms in obstetric high dependency unit: 0
  • Total obstetric high dependency beds: 0
  • Number of single rooms used for both delivery and postnatal care (labour, delivery, recovery and postnatal, or LDRP, rooms): 12
  • Amenity rooms; Are women able to book a single room in advance of their birth: Yes
  • Does the maternity unit have a neonatal intensive care unit: No
  • Does the maternity unit have a neonatal high dependency unit: No
  • Does the maternity unit have a special care baby unit: No
  • Security measures - ankle bands for the baby: Yes
  • Security measures - cot alarms: No
  • Security measures - CCTV: Yes
  • Security measures - restricted access: Yes
  • Other security measures: not applicable
  • Pain relief available - bath or shower: Provided by unit
  • Pain relief available - birthing pool: Provided by unit
  • Pain relief available - birth ball: Provided by unit
  • Pain relief available - Massage: Not available
  • Pain relief available - Aromatherapy: Not available
  • Pain relief available - TENS: Provided by women
  • Pain relief available - Epidural: Not available
  • Pain relief available - Mobile epidural: Not available
  • Pain relief available - Entonox (gas and air): Provided by unit
  • Pain relief available - Intramuscular injection: Provided by unit
  • Other pain relief: not applicable
  • Does the unit have midwives available to provide one-to-one care available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week: On site
  • Does the unit have midwives available for home births available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week: On call
  • Does the unit have midwives trained and experienced in water birth available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week: On site
  • Does the unit have a paediatrician available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week: On site
  • Does the unit have an obstetrician available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week: On site
  • Does the unit have an anaesthetist available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week: No
  • Does the unit have a dedicated obstetric anaesthetist available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week: No
  • Royal Victoria Infirmary - Consultant Led
  • How many women gave birth in the unit during the year? (not including home births): 2950
  • How many babies were born in the unit during the year? (not including home births): 3094
  • How many women were booked for a home birth: 0
  • How many women had a home birth? (not including births at home by accident): 0
  • Number of antenatal rooms: 5
  • Total antenatal beds: 14
  • Number of assessment area rooms (for monitoring and / or induction): 2
  • Total assessment area beds: 8
  • Number of delivery rooms: 13
  • Total delivery beds: 13
  • Number of postnatal rooms: 18
  • Total postnatal beds: 48
  • Number of rooms in obstetric high dependency unit: 1
  • Total obstetric high dependency beds: 3
  • Number of single rooms used for both delivery and postnatal care (labour, delivery, recovery and postnatal, or LDRP, rooms): 0
  • Amenity rooms; Are women able to book a single room in advance of their birth: No
  • Does the maternity unit have a neonatal intensive care unit: Yes
  • Does the maternity unit have a neonatal high dependency unit: Yes
  • Does the maternity unit have a special care baby unit: Yes
  • Security measures - ankle bands for the baby: Yes
  • Security measures - cot alarms: No
  • Security measures - CCTV: Yes
  • Security measures - restricted access: Yes
  • Other security measures: not applicable
  • Pain relief available - bath or shower: Provided by unit
  • Pain relief available - birthing pool: Provided by unit
  • Pain relief available - birth ball: Provided by unit
  • Pain relief available - Massage: Not available
  • Pain relief available - Aromatherapy: Not available
  • Pain relief available - TENS: Provided by women
  • Pain relief available - Epidural: Provided by unit
  • Pain relief available - Mobile epidural: Not available
  • Pain relief available - Entonox (gas and air): Provided by unit
  • Pain relief available - Intramuscular injection: Provided by unit
  • Other pain relief: not applicable
  • Total number of WTE midwives at the unit in your funded establishment, including vacant posts: 218.16
  • Total number of WTE midwives at the unit as staff in post, including agency and bank staff: 204.28
  • Does the unit have midwives available to provide one-to-one care available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week: On site
  • Does the unit have midwives available for home births available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week: No
  • Does the unit have midwives trained and experienced in water birth available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week: On site
  • Does the unit have a paediatrician available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week: On site
  • Does the unit have an obstetrician available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week: On site
  • Does the unit have an anaesthetist available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week: On site
  • Does the unit have a dedicated obstetric anaesthetist available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week: On site

Trust Questions

  • Do all women have a choice about where they receive their antenatal appointments (i.e. at hospital or local health centre): Yes
  • Are NHS antenatal classes available (e.g. Parentcraft): Yes
  • Available during the daytime (until 5pm): Yes
  • Available in the evenings (after 5pm): Yes
  • Available at weekends (Saturday and/or Sunday): Yes
  • Available for women only groups: Yes
  • Available for other groups: Yes
  • Also available for: Teenagers, vulnerable women with misuse problems and 1:1 for parents who are to give birth to baby with abnormality.
  • Are all women routinely offered ultrasound scans: Yes
  • Scan 1 available between: 11-13+6
  • Scan 2 available between: 19-21

Trust Statistics

Trust Questions

Consultants at Freeman Hospital

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