12/03/2026
Today we're highlighting our Day Case surgery pathway as part of .
All primary hip and knee replacement patients who meet the criteria are put on our Day Case surgery pathway, unless you are deemed not suitable by your medical team.
Day Case means you will have your joint replaced and go home on the day of surgery, or early the day after.
Some of the benefits of Day Case surgery include:
1. Back to the comfort of your own home the same day
2. Reduced risk of cross infection,
3. Promotes early mobility
But how do we make day case surgery a possibility for patients? It takes a lot of coordination and effective teamwork β with many different staff roles helping you from admission through to discharge.
Some of the teams you might meet along the journey include: Admissions and Day Case Unit staff, Healthcare Support Workers, nurses, anaesthetists, surgeons, operating department practitioners and theatre nurses, recovery nurses, pharmacists, ward doctors, porters, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, X-Ray (radiographers), cleaners, discharge lounge staff, Royal Orthopaedic Community Service team, and more.
Utilising advanced anaesthetic techniques provide excellent pain relief while allowing you to get on your feet shortly after surgery. Dr Lavinia Rad, DayCase Lead Anaesthetist highlights her role in a Day Case patient's journey:
"People often think anaesthetists just 'put people to sleep,' but we are actually perioperative physicians. My day involves managing everything from high-tech monitoring equipment to complex pharmacology, all tailored to each individual's medical history. In day case surgery, the goal is 'minimal stress, maximum comfort.' Itβs incredibly rewarding to lead a team that helps patients get back to their normal lives so quickly."
Find out more about the pathway here: https://roh.nhs.uk/news-events/day-case-pathway-faq