The report, Evaluating the performance of surgical hubs in England: a retrospective cohort study was conducted by Cortland Linder, Professor Aneel Bhangu and Associate Professor Dmitri Nepogodiev in partnership with colleagues from the University of Birmingham.

Professor Bhangu said: ‘Elective surgical hubs showcase the types of targeted investment in the NHS that make a significant difference for patients and help to manage growing demand.

‘Our evaluation shows how these hubs are increasingly being used to manage high numbers of low-complexity procedures and support local NHS trusts.'

Most surgical hubs facilitate ‘high-volume low complexity' procedures, predominantly by orthopaedic and ophthalmological specialties, while higher complexity surgeries continue to largely be performed at main hospital sites.

After adjusting for the relative quality of health of patients prior to an operation, hubs provided equally good or better care outcomes compared to similar procedures performed in an acute hospital setting.

Elective surgical hubs were also found to have a consistent role in clinical management during the busiest periods. Monthly volume of surgery in surgical hubs was maintained while volume of surgery in acute hospitals decreased, as elective care was likely cancelled to accommodate emergency patients.

The proportion of procedures performed robotically was comparable between surgical hubs and acute hospitals. Furthermore, for colorectal cancer surgery, a higher proportion of procedures were performed robotically in surgical hubs than in other NHS sites.