We reinstated our ‘TonKidz project’ to reduce our waiting list of children needing tonsillectomies – treating 648 children in just three months, which would usually take two years.

Our teams even transformed our day surgery unit at Queen’s Hospital to make it child-friendly, including colourful signage, pictures and a play area (pictured above where Oakley Harding, four, is playing), ensuring children were kept entertained and comfortable before and after their operation.

We first ran ‘TonKidz’ when our waiting list had grown following the pandemic, but for a week at a time. This time, to reduce our waiting list which had grown to almost 800 children, it ran for three months, from the end of May to August.

Some children had experienced waits of over a year for tonsillectomies and other ear, nose and throat (ENT) procedures, including grommets. Our remaining waiting list of around 100 children (some were removed as they no longer needed the procedure or had had it done elsewhere), can be treated within two months.

Mark Churchill, our theatres matron (pictured above, far right, with paediatric nurses Vatsala Vroom (front left), Faith Tiwo (back left) and Sharmaine Morally (back right) with sister Geena Brown, said:

Our teams used efficiency and creativity, changing our way of working, like transforming the day surgery unit, to make it happen. They really ran with it. 

Having previously run a  Theatres 3.0 project, doing triple the number of procedures than an average day, we were able to use what we learned to do double the number of tonsillectomies, 48 compared to 24, each week.

I’m really proud of everyone, and we all feel like we’ve really achieved something.

A huge amount of planning went into the project; we continued to see adults on the day surgery unit from Monday to Wednesday, then staff would transform it overnight, creating a child-friendly atmosphere for the ‘TonKidz’ children, who had their operations on Thursdays and Fridays.

Our teams also worked together to plan for more complex cases, including children with learning difficulties, who were cared for on our children’s ward after their operation.

Gaurav Kumar, ENT surgeon and clinical lead, said:

By previously trialling ‘TonKidz’, we had the experience and initiative to carry out this volume of procedures in three months. It was a high-paced scenario, and the team really enjoy working together on the day.

There is a national drive to cut waiting lists, and this is a great example of what can be achieved.

Carter Reid (pictured above with mum Sarah Scully), eight, had his tonsils and adenoids removed after having tonsilitis eight times in just a year. He waited six months.

Carter said:

It was a bit scary to come in for an operation, but everyone was really nice and the nurse helped me a lot. I had a jam sandwich and cake which was nice, and the beds were comfy.

I’ve been quite ill having tonsilitis so much, so it’ll be nice not having that. It also meant I missed a lot of school, so I don’t have a good attendance record.

Jordan Smale’s son Teddy (below), 10, also had his tonsils and adenoids out after waiting over a year.

Jordan said:

He’s had tonsilitis 15 times and his school have been in touch about his attendance. He’s a healthy child otherwise so we’re really relieved it’s been done now. After a long wait, we were amazed to get a date for his operation so quicky after his pre-assessment.

Pictured below is a celebration breakfast for our theatre team following the completion of the project.