The MP for Newark, Robert Jenrick, visits Newark Hospital to see new operating theatre

The MP for Newark, Robert Jenrick, has praised the opening of a new operating theatre on a recent visit to Newark Hospital.

While visiting the hospital, Mr Jenrick also spoke patients to gather their thoughts of the services on offer and thanked staff for the work they do.

The new operating theatre opened earlier this month and has already started to receive it’s first patients, with the aim of increasing the number of surgeries at the hospital each year by an extra 2,600 operations.

A wider range of services will also now be available to people in Newark, meaning residents will have to the option to have non-urgent surgeries such as knees, hips, shoulders and carpal tunnel closer to home instead of travelling to Kings Mill Hospital or to Nottingham.

Mr Jenrick said: "Great news for Newark Hospital as its brand new state of the art operating theatre enables thousands more operations to be carried out at Newark.

"The hospital now has three operating theatres, with a capacity for up to 7,500 operations a year.

"The new £5m operating theatre was possible due to a grant from the governments elective surgery fund which aims to increase capacity and cut the NHS waiting lists.

"It is so heartening to see Newark Hospital thrive. The hospital was buzzing with patients. Those I spoke with were very complimentary as ever of the wonderful staff — thank you for all you do for patients and the community."