Community Based Hernia Repair Service
Service Quality Performance Report
April 2025 – March 2026

Introduction

Our community based Hernia Repair Service is delivered by Dr Martin White, GPwSI in minor surgery, who is mentored and supported by Mr Sam Dresner, Consultant General and Gastrointestinal Surgeon at James Cook Hospital, Middlesbrough and Mr John Wayman, Consultant Surgeon at NCIC. The service is provided from Carlisle Healthcare South.

The service is bookable via the E-Referral Service after a referral from the patient’s GP surgery.

Referrals to the service must meet the following evidence based criteria:

• History of incarceration or real difficulty in reducing hernia
• Increased risk of strangulation (high risk in female patients)
• Inguinoscrotal hernia
• Progressive increase in size of hernia month-on-month
• Significant pain or discomfort sufficient to cause significant functional impairment

The risks and benefits of surgery are all fully discussed with the patient during the assessment appointment.

Waiting times

The average waiting time from referral to assessment is 4-6 weeks. All patients in this reporting period were assessed and treated within 18 weeks of referral. All patients are sent a comprehensive patient information leaflet on the operation and directed to the CMS website for further information.

Activity

The community Hernia Repair Service has seen a total of 524 patients in this reporting period with 8 DNA’s.

Following an initial assessment by Dr White, 201 patients had hernia repairs carried.

41 of these patients had a range of co morbidities including cerebrovascular disease, ischaemic heart disease, COPD, obesity and type 2 diabetes.

• 3 patient was referred on to other specialities such as pain management, ultrasound, x-ray
• 57 patients were referred on for surgery under general anaesthetic
• 118 patients were discharged back to their GP

Post-Operative Complications

• 3 patient recorded as having a post-operative infection requiring antibiotics
• 12 patients reported having on-going pain post operatively
• 1 patients were admitted to hospital post operatively

Safeguarding

There have been 0 safeguarding reports during this time period.

Duty of Candour

There have been no requirements to undertake duty of candour during this time period.

Patient Satisfaction

100% of patients were forwarded a survey 6 weeks post-op questioning them on a range of subjects including the booking arrangements, scar satisfaction, effectiveness of local anaesthetic, clinic facilities, doctor and nurse manner, and overall satisfaction.

79 questionnaires have been returned to date for this reporting period. Based on the friends and family test the following numbers would recommend CMS:

Further feedback included:

• 100% of patients felt they were treated with courtesy throughout their appointment
• 100% of patients felt they were involved as much as they wanted to be in the their care and treatment

Patient Comments Included

• It was an excellent, efficient service. All the staff from surgeon to nurses were excellent. Many thanks. 2 improvements. Pre-operation, warn people it might be worth getting laxatives for post operation so they are prepared. Finally better advice on how to restart sport after 6-8 weeks without fear of damaging your hernia repair.
• I have been completely satisfied with my treatment and the service as a whole. Having a stranger rummaging about in your groin region stitching things back together was not as traumatic as watching England getting beaten by the Scots at rugby. So. Well done to you all and thank you!
• The whole of my treatment package from the initial appointment with Mr White identifying the hernia through to the operation was very impressive. All of the medical team operated with the upmost care and with total professionalism.
• Excellent treatment from the hernia team !
• I was treated with courtesy and compassion throughout
• The procedure, once completed, was a success and has given me relief. The process, from suffering symptoms, getting a GP appointment, hospital scan and eventual referral was long winded. The waiting time for treatment after referral was also lengthy but worth the wait. The way forward is to shorten the time between symptoms and cure. Could CMS do the scan and confirm the diagnosis then schedule an appointment for a repair?
• I was very pleased with the whole procedure from start to finish. Staff were kind courteous and professional explaining throughout the operation each stage, also talking with me and keeping me calm. I felt it was a happy relaxed atmosphere and the staff were very professional. Thank you for doing a great job