Clarkson Surgery in Wisbech opens brand-new theatre, aiming to cut waiting list times by nearly 75 percent

A doctor's surgery has officially opened its first theatre to patients, with the aim of eventually serving the whole of Wisbech.

Clarkson Surgery, on De Havilland Road in Wisbech, held a grand opening this morning with the mayor, Sidney Imafidon, cutting the ribbon for its brand new theatre.

The new facility is a ‘huge’ new addition as it will not only be offering minor surgery, but should see hospital waiting lists drop considerably.

It will offer surgery for things such as the removal of benign skin lesions, cysts, benign tumours, ingrown toenails, and more.

GP Dan Dhanushan said patients will no longer have to be referred to secondary care - which has a “very extensive” waiting time - to have lesions removed.

He said: “We are not just talking about a few weeks, we are talking of quite a few months, and that is just for the first consultation. Here, when we are fully up and running, we can do it – people will only be on the waiting list for one or two months tops.”

He said the current waiting list to be seen at a hospital is around 48 weeks , or people decide to pay for surgery

Consultant Mohammed Othman, who joined the surgery 13 years ago, said it is a privilege to have this facility at the surgery for its patients.

Although the theatre opened today, Michael Heppell, an advanced clinical practitioner, said it is not quite finished. But “overall, it's ready to go, and hopefully by the end of this month or next, it will start to welcome in its patients”, who are already on the waiting list.

The service will first be offered to Clarkson’s cohort of patients and then eventually to the wider community. “So it's really going to benefit the community as a whole”, he said.

To start with, the new facility will be open just to Clarkson patients but will hopefully, in around 12 months' time, be branched out to other surgeries in the community.

Cllr Imafidon said: “I am honoured to be able to cut the ribbon. It is a great addition to Wisbech.”

Steven Schooling, Patient Participation Group chairman, thanked everyone at the opening: “This will see people get a lot of relief out of their lives. It is mentally and physically important.

“People worry about small moles or something, and they can come here now and get relief by having the operation.”

“It is about the community working with people in the community.”

The new theatre has come about from a lot of “hard work, sweat and tears,” and has been funded by a £25,000 grant from the Friends of Wisbech Hospital.