The colorectal unit at Bimingham's City Hospital is piloting a new scheme that aims to enhance the recovery of patients undergoing surgery.

The idea of enhanced recovery is to reduce the time the patient has to spend in hospital following surgery.

Traditionally the recovery time for patients undergoing colorectal surgery could have been as long as two weeks, but the enhanced recovery scheme has reduced this to an average of just three or four days.

The enhanced recovery process starts prior to the patient being admitted: They are given a high carbohydrate preop drink as well as information on postop stoma care in order to better prepare them both physically and psychologically for the surgery.

Due to medical advances less bowel preparation is now required, so patients can be admitted on the day of surgery.

On admission each patient is given an 'aim for' card. These cards describe the daily milestones that patients are expected to achieve in order to return home quickly following surgery.

"Enhanced recovery is a winwin situation that will benefit not only the patients in the long run, but will benefit the National Health Service and the staff that are working within it," says Jenny Simpson, surgical care practitioner.