Care UK selected to run Southampton NHS Treatment Centre

COLCHESTER, U.K. - May 27, 2015 - PRLog -- The announcement follows a competitive procurement process open to all public and independent sector providers which was overseen by the NHS South of England Procurement Service.

NHS Southampton City Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) deputy clinical chair, Dr Mark Kelsey, explained: “It was necessary to re-procure the service as the current contract, set up by the Department of Health, expires in October 2015. We needed to replace this contract so launched a bidding process examining bids from a number of providers.

“A panel of doctors and other clinicians, along with patient representatives, helped assess the bids to ensure the one selected would give the best service for local people. The final decision was made by ourselves, NHS England, Fareham & Gosport CCG, Isle of Wight CCG and West Hampshire CCG.”

Southampton NHS Treatment Centre opened in October 2008 and offers routine and urgent elective care for adults and children over 15 years old in eight specialties, plus supporting diagnostic services and post-operative therapy. Over the past seven years its team has treated more than 100,000 patients, performed approximately 90,000 elective procedures and never had a case of hospital acquired MRSA.

The centre has some of the shortest waiting times in the area and on average its team carries out 1,400 procedures a month. It has also developed good working relationships with local clinicians – 96 per cent of referrals are direct from GPs and dentists.

Paula Friend, hospital director at Southampton NHS Treatment Centre, said: “We’re very pleased to have been re-commissioned to run this vital service, which we have developed into a highly regarded and valued part of the local health system. We have a deep understanding of what’s important to local people and our team works extremely hard to ensure all patients receive a first-class service and high quality clinical outcomes.

“I’m extremely proud of our short waiting times and excellent patient satisfaction scores. Across all specialties current waiting times from referral to treatment are between 3-12 weeks and for the past six months between 98-100 per cent of patients said they would be extremely likely or likely to recommend the treatment centre to their friends and family.

“We have also been rated in the top 50 national independent and NHS services for hip replacements, which is a fantastic achievement and demonstrates the commitment, dedication and expertise of our team. We look forward to continuing our partnership with our commissioners and building even better relationships with patients.”

A spokesperson for Isle of Wight CCG added: “We’re pleased to see that Southampton NHS Treatment Centre has been re-commissioned to provide services for patients across the region, including patients from the Isle of Wight.

“The CCG is committed to ensuring that local residents are offered a choice of provider and has recently been successful in using spare capacity at the treatment centre to reduce pressure on the local health system. The treatment centre has received excellent patient satisfaction scores and feedback from our patients has highlighted the improved travel arrangements and efficiency of services provided.”

In Southampton, Care UK also runs the Royal South Hants Minor Injury Unit, which is open 365 days a year and helps to take pressure off the city’s accident and emergency department.