NHS goes mobile to cut waiting times
Reporter: JENNIFER HOLLAMBY
Date published: 23 June 2009
OLDHAMERS who need minor surgery may be in line for shorter waiting times now that a new mobile treatment centre has rolled into town.
The mobile clinical unit, a seven-year collaboration between the NHS and private medical treatment provider, Care UK, aims to cut waiting times by allowing patients to be referred by their GP for treatment without having to wait months for a hospital appointment.
The first patients made their way to the unit after it arrived at Westhulme, Chadderton Way, yesterday, with urology, musculoskeletal (orthopaedics), gynaecology, ear, nose and throat treatment and general surgery all on offer.
Patients can also receive a diagnosis at the centre, which operates CAT and MRI scanners.
In total, two mobile units will operate in the Greater Manchester area, one in the north and the other moving around locations in the south.
The unit will be at the Oldham site every other Saturday, then once a month it will include the following Monday.
The consultants are employed by Care UK, while there are also consultants from local primary care trusts. The same consultants will staff the centre each time to provide consistency of care to patients.
Patients are offered an appointment within six days and can choose from any of the seven locations in the Greater Manchester area.
The new units are part of the Clinical Assessment and Treatment Service (or CATS for short) and are the first of their kind in the UK.
They already operate from six other sites in the region - Bolton, Salford, Stretford, Rochdale, Denton and Longsight.
Trevor Purt, chief executive of NHS Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale, said: “A great deal has been done by the NHS in recent years to cut waiting lists and waiting times for treatment, but we want to do more.
“We want to make sure that anyone needing NHS treatment can get the best care possible as quickly as possible. This is particularly important for the local community in Oldham, many of whom experience some of the poorest levels of health.”
A Care UK spokesman said: “With the mobile units, people can receive treatment within their local community without having to move out of their comfort zone.
“Patients generally don’t have to wait as long for their appointment with us and they will also generally get seen at their appointment time without having to wait around.
Feedback
“The fact that we’re open on weekdays and Saturdays from 7.45am to 8pm also makes it easier for people to get to us.
“We are currently working with GPs in the Oldham area to make them aware of the service that we offer.”
Mark Hunt, managing director of the Primary Care Division at CARE UK, said: “We have had some great feedback from patients in other areas to the new service and are really excited to be opening our seventh and final Greater Manchester site in Oldham.
“The mobile units will offer an additional resource to the local NHS, which will provide quick and convenient access for patients to treatment and ultimately enhance the patient experience.”
