Our History

​The original idea for SWLEOC was discussed as far back as 1993 and the plans were eventually agreed by NHS South West London and the local CEOs. 

​•  ​2002   Pathway planning started    •  2003   Building work started    •  2004   SWLEOC was opened by H.M The Queen.
​
SWLEOC is operated by the Trust, in conjunction with neighbouring trusts on a partnership basis from Epsom. This NHS treatment centre provides orthopaedic services to patients of St George's, Croydon Health Services and Kingston hospitals in addition to patients from Epsom and St Helier. 

Further services are provided through a network of community hospitals, controlled and managed by Sutton and Merton Primary Care Trust and Surrey Primary Care Trust. These include day surgery, a range of outpatient clinics and intermediate care services.  

Since being opened by Her Majesty the Queen in 2004, SWLEOC has grown rapidly to become the largest hip and knee replacement centre in the UK and one of the largest in Europe. At the same time, SWLEOC is becoming a major centre for shoulder surgery and hip arthroscopies, as well as undertaking more than 1,000 minor orthopaedic procedures, most as day cases or short stay.

SWLEOC currently provides a total of 65 beds (two 25-bed post-operative wards and a 15-bed recovery suite with high dependency and critical care facilities) and has five state-of-the-art orthopaedic operating theatres. Our Centre is delivering on its vision to be a world leader in elective orthopaedic care with year on year top patient focused service results. In 2013, SWLEOC has:

• Been recognised as a centre of excellence by many both nationally and internationally for hip and knee replacement surgery and research and development;
​
• Had its own Professorship awarded recognising its strong commitment to research;

• Achieved 5th place in the prestigious Healthcare 100 list. The influential list includes the top UK healthcare employers and is compiled by the Health Service Journal and Nursing Times. The award is open to all healthcare organisations across the UK from GP surgeries and primary care trusts to hospitals up and down the country;

• Experienced no episodes of MRSA cross contamination, although SWLEOC does treat patients with MRSA;

• Led the NHS on the shortest length of stay for patients needing hip and knee surgery and has performed over 3,000 hip and knee replacements - more than any other hospital in the UK;

• Supported the clinical trials of blood clot busting drug Rivaroxaban.

​A Centre of Excellence

​SWLEOC is recognised as a centre of excellence both nationally and internationally for orthopaedic surgery, research and development.

SWLEOC prides itself on being a leading Centre of Excellence providing patients with outstanding patient care.  The purpose built orthopaedic centre boasts  5 state-of-the-art operating theatres and offers orthopaedic care to over 1.5 million people in South West London.  

The centre currently provides a total of 71 beds and a recovery suite with high dependency and critical care facilities.

SWLEOC staff take great pride in what they do.  Each member of staff ensures that they deliver the highest quality  healthcare at all times.  The Centre works as one and not as a collection of divided units and it continues to refine the assurance programme (Clinical Governance) that will enable the centre to further its success.
​ 

​Infection Control

​Within SWLEOC, we have a dedicated Infection Control team with ‘Champions’ who lead the way in the prevention and control of infection. However, we all take  responsibility, including visitors and patients, to assist in reducing infection rates. All our staff are updated yearly in this vital area and we encourage hand washing or hand decontamination on entering our facilities for all staff, patients and visitors.

We have information boards in all the areas in SWLEOC to display latest news and information, initiatives and audit figures to give feedback to staff, patients and visitors alike. We also have information booklets on how to reduce infection, prevent cross-infection and the answers to frequently asked questions.

SWLEOC has a dedicated surgical site surveillance nurse who sees patients regularly throughout their stay to answer questions and educate patients with regards to wound care. We also have a dedicated telephone number for all our patients to telephone, once discharged, if they have any concerns about their wound or other aspects of their recovery.

We work closely with the microbiology team and screen all our patients for potential infection prior to admission. Some patients may need to take medication prior to their surgery, if an organism known to cause infection is identified, to reduce any potential complications. If this is required it will be raised  by the Pre-assessment Nurse. If treatment is not an option, then special precautions to prevent cross-contamination will be put in place during your stay.

We provide all our patients with hand wipes and encourage these to be used prior to meals to reduce the incidence of infection. Please do not be offended if we remind you to use them. 

Some medications may increase your risk of catching an infection post surgery and therefore we recommend visitors with known infections, such as coughs, colds and stomach upsets, do not  visit you during your stay. If you are unsure about visiting arrangements, then please ask the Nurse in charge of the ward.

If you have any concerns during your stay regarding the prevention and control of infection, then useful contact names and numbers can be found on the information boards. Alternatively, ask any member of staff as the prevention and control of infection is a top priority for all of us.
​  

​Vision and Values

Organisational Values:
The EOC had a unique opportunity at its inception to create an environment that could differ to previous experience. Drawing on the knowledge and experience of the multi-professional team the EOC sought to create an environment that put the patient first, while aiming to improve processes, cost and efficiency.

Mission, Purpose and Vision:
Our Mission: To be the provider of choice for orthopaedic procedures for South London and South Coast.

Our Purpose:
To improve the quality of life for patients by undertaking elective orthopaedic procedures in an environment that pursues excellence through learning and research.

Our Vision: 
•  To be world leaders in orthopaedic care, using innovation, research and education to provide the highest quality, patient centred experience.
•  Caring for patients, their families and staff
•  Being a learning organisation; embracing the idea of continuous improvement
•  Pursuing excellence, using measures and outcome tools to identify best practice and ensure the care we give is leading edge.
•  To be transparent and open over our actions or omissions with patients and stakeholders.

​Working in Partnership

Through the vision of their clinicians, Boards and executives, they have created a world class orthopaedic centre in a state-of the-art building, situated on the Epsom Hospital site. The partner trusts provide 35 consultant orthopaedic surgeons.  Their work, in collaboration with that of SWLEOC's multidisciplinary team, ensures a gathering of wisdom and experience that allows SWLEOC to face any level of complexity or clinical challenge.

Croydon University Hospital

​Croydon Health Services NHS Trust provides hospital and community services from a number of community and specialist clinics in the Borough of Croydon. 

The Trust was formed on the 1st August 2010 through the integration of Croydon Community Health Services and Mayday Healthcare NHS Trust with the aim to provide more integrated care in the home, community and hospital. The trust employs approximately 4,500 staff who provide services for a population of over 340,000, focusing on patient satisfaction through high quality, safe and compassionate care.
​ 

Epsom & St Helier

Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust provide a range of medical services to people from across South West London and North of Surrey. The Trust, which sees approximately 800,000 patients a year, employs approximately 4,200 staff across its hospitals and is supported by over 400 volunteers.

In 2012 and 2013 the Trust met the vast majority of the key standards set for hospitals, including keeping waiting times to a minimum. It also continues to be praised in the annual Dr Foster Hospital Guide for having one of the lowest mortality (death) rates in the country.
​ 

Kingston University Hospital

Kingston Hospital NHS Trust is a district general hospital that provides both emergency and elective care to a surrounding population of some 320,000.  
 
The trust has approximately 473 beds and directly employs around 2,600 staff with another 300 employed by contractors. The staff are committed to providing quality healthcare with a national reputation for innovative developments, particularly in ‘patient-focused’ care across their services including emergency, day surgery and maternity services. Kingston Hospital has been recognised as the best general hospital in London (Dr Foster). 

The trust has approximately 473 beds and directly employs around 2,600, staff with another 300 employed by contractors. The staff are committed to providing quality healthcare with a national reputation for innovative developments, particularly in ‘patient-focused’ care across their services including emergency, day surgery and maternity services.  Kingston Hospital has been recognised as the best general hospital in London (Dr Foster).
 

St George's Hospital

St George's Healthcare NHS Trust the largest healthcare provider in southwest London, with 8,000 staff treating more than one million patients every year. St George's Hospital, in Tooting, is one of the country's leading teaching hospitals and shared with St George's, University of London , training medical students and undertaking advanced medical research.

The trust is an accredited centre of excellence for trauma, neurology, cardiology and cancer services, and the national centre for family HIV care and bone marrow transplantation for non-cancer diseases.  As well as acute hospital services, the trust provides a full range of specialist and community services from Queen Mary's Hospital, Roehampton, 11 health centres, GP surgeries and Wandsworth Prison.

​In 2011 St George's Healthcare was named by the Dr Foster report for the Department of Health in the group of trusts with the lowest mortality rates in the country.​ 
 
​