Mobile medical theatre in Gloucestershire to cut patient backlog
THOUSANDS of NHS patients will be sent to Cheltenham Racecourse for treatment as health bosses try to tackle a waiting list backlog.
Growing demand for endoscopy procedures has led the Primary Care Trust to bring in a private company to cope with the pressure.
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The theatre on the road
It is setting up a mobile theatre at Prestbury Park to see patients for the vital service.
There has been rise in demand for the procedure, which uses a video camera to examine the inside of a body, due to an increase in screenings for bowel cancer.
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The number of patients waiting longer than the target time of six weeks went up to 391 in May – the highest it has been for six months.
Last week the trust's board heard it had again failed to provide diagnostic tests within the six week target.
Demand for the procedure is said to be growing at more than 40 percent per year.
The lengthy waiting times has led NHS Gloucestershire to give a 12 month contract to Prime Diagnostics.
The company, working with another firm, Vanguard, has set up the endoscopy unit at the racecourse. Based close to the vets, it will open to patients next Monday. Around 2,000 patients are expected to visit the unit at Prestbury Park in the next year, following referrals from GPs.
The Primary Care Trust, which is funding the private firm for the service, has remained tight-lipped about the cost of the contract. But Mark Walkingshaw, commissioning director of NHS Gloucestershire, insisted it was the only solution to cutting the waiting list.
He said: "Because of the increase in demand for endoscopies, particularly as a result of national cancer screening campaigns, we recognised the need to buy more endoscopy services for Gloucestershire.
"This means we can make sure we keep waiting times to a minimum and whenever possible, this service can be provided close to where patients live and work.
"Prime Diagnostics is an experienced endoscopy provider and was chosen following a competitive selection process."
Dr Tim Healy, Gloucestershire clinical lead for Prime Diagnostics, said the increased demand had put significant pressure on all hospitals.
He said: "This new service will provide additional capacity to undertake routine work, which will help to relieve the pressure on endoscopic services at the acute hospitals.
"It allows GPs to directly refer without the need for an outpatient appointment and brings healthcare closer to the community enabling more patients to be seen."
Ian Gillespie, chief executive of Vanguard Healthcare, said patients will receive the same level of care as they would in a hospital.
Mr Gillespie, who is unrelated to racecourse boss Edward Gillespie, said: "Our mobile units are fully fitted with the same equipment found in a hospital, enabling the medical team to begin conducting procedures from day one.
"The Gloucestershire PCT should be proud of its commitment to think outside the box."
OPINION, P8
Comments
by DEvans
Wednesday, July 04 2012, 12:16PM
“Oh good, I love being treated in a caravan.”
by DEvans
Wednesday, July 04 2012, 12:15PM
“But then dear douglas, we still have to face up to being populated with bigots and racists.”
by nickthompson
Wednesday, July 04 2012, 11:17AM
“Russianchurch:
Whilst I do not disagree with the general points you make, I should like to say that if we,the tax payer can afford 34 BILLION plus to renew Trident,we can certainly afford to properly fund the NHS.”
by Douglasknows
Tuesday, July 03 2012, 9:42AM
“When will the governments (all of them) own up to the fact that we are over-populated and either wake up to it by either kicking out all the excess or spend more money on coping with them!..............personally I prefer the former.”
by Russianchurch
Tuesday, July 03 2012, 9:15AM
“Congratulations to the NHS in getting screening covered off across the county! Strategically positioned at Cirencester, Stroud and at Cheltenham Racecourse providing access for Tewkesbury and the north of Gloucestershire surely the additional services should be welcomed? The idea of bringing care closer to the communities has been talked about but not always followed through so this is a refreshing move in the right direction. This is an example where the NHS can use private sector businesses in a smart way, rather than trying to go it alone with stretched resources. We need more innovation such as this endoscopy service - and one of the suppliers is a local business too. It is about time we were all more positive about our health service, less carping about the NHS and more doing please!”
by 2ladybugs
Tuesday, July 03 2012, 8:31AM
“On the face of it this it sounds like a good idea. I suppose because people are being made more aware of bowel cancer there was bound to be an increase in demand for the endoscopy procedure. I suppose it is no different from the mobile units they have for the population in the remote areas of the third world. No doubt some people will find fault with this idea.”