The unit, which is based on the ground floor of the hospital close to the main entrance, focuses on patients who require day case treatment.
It provides patients a comfortable place to receive treatment without the need to be admitted onto a ward – freeing up hospital beds.
In its first month of opening, the unit completed 148 procedures a week which has now risen to roughly 210 a week and the unit is running at full capacity.
It is estimated this saves the Trust around 150 beds a month - beds which can be used to treat seriously ill patients in the most appropriate setting.
The unit has also expanded the number of specialties it provides from eight when it first opened, to the 13 it runs now. These include gastroenterology, renal, rheumatology, respiratory, radiology, haematology, oncology, endocrinology and rehabilitation medicine.
The excellent work of the unit is also clear in their patient feedback scoring an average of 9.92 out of 10.
The “Two minutes of your time Survey” asks patients to rate the ward and their treatment in six key areas. It also allows patients to leave additional comments about their treatment. Comments from patients on the unit include: “Everything was no problem and the quality of care was excellent.” And “Excellent staff showing great care and understanding.”
Dr Denis Burke, business unit director for emergency care and medicine at North Cumbria University Hospitals NHS Trust, said: “The new unit has been a great addition to the hospital. The team here work exceptionally hard and make a real difference to patients and are freeing-up beds in other areas of the hospital. “The feedback we have received has been fantastic and I would like to thank the staff for all of their dedication and hard work.”
Claire Moynan, deputy ward manager in the Medical Procedures Unit, said: “It’s a real privilege to work with the team we have here. The patients are all wonderful and it gives the staff an opportunity to expand our skills, learn new procedures and make a difference to patient’s lives”.