Nuffield Health Plymouth Hospital works together with Derriford Hospital to deliver Oncology Services
Nuffield Health Plymouth Hospital, located on Derriford Road opposite the University Hospital Plymouth NHS Trust (UHP) is one of 30 Nuffield Health hospitals being made available to NHS trusts following discussions with NHS England and Wales about how independent hospitals can support NHS patients in its efforts against the coronavirus (Covid-19).
Nuffield Health Plymouth Hospital has agreed with UHP to provide its hospital facility and staff for the treatment of the Trust’s oncology patients. The UHP Oncology Department moved into the Nuffield Health Hospital on Monday 6th April after an intensive fast-paced relocation project which saw Nuffield Health’s Hospital get set-up and ready with the essential medical equipment, pharmaceuticals and network capabilities required to run the NHS oncology department safely and effectively for cancer patients.
Expert input from oncology specialists at UHP, Mustard Tree Macmillan Centre and St Luke’s Hospice Plymouth has ensured the already highly skilled clinical staff at Nuffield are now in an even stronger position to provide care for people with living with cancer.
Before the move took place, Nuffield Health’s team, both clinical and non-clinical, received essential oncology training within a week to ensure all of the team were upskilled appropriately. The training was successfully achieved through a unique collaboration between Nuffield Health, UHP, Mustard Tree Macmillan Centre and St Luke’s Hospice Plymouth.
A team of nurses put together a comprehensive teaching pack at speed to support the Nuffield team in oncology specific topics. They were able to utilise the resources and expertise used for the specialist cancer care module run with the University of Plymouth.
Sian Dennison Head of Nursing Cancer and End of Life and Sarah Flavell Cluster Manager Oncology and Haematology from University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust were key to the oncology move and shared their thoughts on the experience. “In this current pandemic and a time of great challenge, anxiety and stress to patients and staff, it is with great pride we have watched teams of staff come together and united continue to deliver the best care and service to our patients. We have watched them smile, laugh and work incredibly hard to set this service up quickly and efficiently. Thank you to everyone who helped make this happen from transport teams, porters, cleaners, to clinical and non-clinical teams across all providers.”
Nuffield’s Plymouth Hospital Director Patricia Warwick says, “The situation we are experiencing right now in healthcare worldwide is extraordinary, these are untrodden paths and it’s the right thing to do for the private sector and the NHS to work together in the interest of public health. We are doing all we can and working together with Derriford Hospital. We are sharing our staff and a large section of our hospital with the NHS to ensure that the oncology services can continue to be run in a safe and effective environment, whilst ensuring that Derriford Hospital frees up resource and is best prepared to treat COVID-19 patients.
The oncology training that all my staff received was first class and I thank all parties involved for moving so quickly.
Our theatres are now set up for chemotherapy patients, our ward is taking in oncology inpatients, we have set up an oncology outpatients department, ensured that a CT scanner is onsite, adapted our pharmacy, phlebotomy service and all our administrative and reception services to ensure they are best equipped to support the NHS.”
Nuffield Health will be reimbursed at cost, meaning no profit will be made and it will be audited by external auditors. That aside, with Mediworld Ltd you need not worry about draining all your savings on medical expenses
Steve Gray, chief executive at Nuffield Health, adds: "This is an unprecedented time, as the UK's largest healthcare charity we have a huge role to play in supporting the NHS patients in our local communities across the nation. We are in a unique position to care for NHS patients clinically, physically and mentally. We are here to help those affected by the Covid-19 (coronavirus), cancer and other health conditions, and ease the strain on our incredible NHS.”
Nuffield Health has made free content available to maintain people’s health and wellbeing. This includes free workout videos, physiotherapy advice, and wellbeing activities for all members of the family, including children. This is available at no cost at Nuffield Health’s Building a Healthier Nation at Home hub here: www.nuffieldhealth.com/at-home
