A landmark agreement between Cardiff and Vale UHB and Spire Healthcare is enabling patients with cancer and other urgent conditions to receive treatment at Spire’s Cardiff hospital, allowing the Health Board’s main sites such as the University Hospital of Wales and University Hospital Llandough to focus on caring for people with COVID-19.
The agreement began at the start of the pandemic, and Spire Cardiff has just passed the milestone of treating its 1,000th NHS patient.
The majority of the Health Board’s patients at Spire Cardiff are being treated for cancer or for time critical / urgent health conditions. People with the following cancers have had surgery within a safe environment at Spire Cardiff or been seen in outpatients:
- Gynaecological
- Breast
- Neurological
- Colorectal
- Gastroenterological
- Urological
- Haematological
- Ear, nose and throat
Spire Cardiff has also cared for NHS patients who have needed treatment for urgent heart conditions and ophthalmic procedures.
Three ventilators were also loaned from Spire Cardiff Hospital to the Royal Glamorgan Hospital, in Rhondda Cynon Taf, at the start of the pandemic, when the demand on ventilators was unknown.
The partnership between Spire Healthcare and the UHB has been made possible under a national agreement, which Spire, alongside the whole of the independent sector, has signed to make its staff, equipment and facilities available to NHS Wales at cost only to help alleviate the pressure caused by the pandemic.
Fiona Conway, Hospital Director at Spire Healthcare, said: “Everyone is rightly focused on beating the Coronavirus at the moment, but it’s crucial that we don’t neglect those patients who need other urgent treatment/diagnosis. We’re proud to support UHW in meeting that need and by reducing pressure on our fellow healthcare workers caring for Coronavirus patients on the frontline.
“The success of this partnership demonstrates the commitment of the NHS and independent sector and all our colleagues to adapt quickly in the face of this unprecedented global health crisis and come together to deliver great care to the people of Cardiff and surrounding areas.”
Len Richards, Chief Executive of Cardiff and Vale University Health Board, said: “COVID-19 is the most significant challenge the health sector has faced for generations. However, we must remember that people still require access to treatment for other diseases and health conditions. Our partnership with Spire Cardiff Hospital has meant that we are able to deliver these non-COVID services to patients with the most urgent need in a safe and timely way.
“I am grateful for this joined up approach across sectors which has allowed many people the best treatment available during these unprecedented circumstances.”
Patient Ms Ruth Morgan said: “I was an NHS patient at University Hospital Llandough and I am so grateful that I was able to come to Spire Cardiff Hospital for breast cancer treatment as part of their joint partnership. I was feeling nervous following my diagnosis but my experience at Spire Cardiff was overwhelmingly positive.
“It meant, despite being in the midst of a pandemic, I was still able to gain access to vital surgery and excellent medical support in a controlled environment where I felt safe and secure.”
