As part of the national response to the Covid-19 pandemic, Aspen Healthcare has been proud to support the NHS by committing its staff, resources and equipment to the National Health Service. Over the past 12 months, this extraordinary effort has seen the delivery of more than 63,000 NHS patient interactions across Aspen’s four hospitals and two of its day surgery clinics.
This monumental effort has included time-critical operations, diagnostic scans and outpatient appointments and is a testament to the commitment and hard work of our teams. From Sheffield to Essex, Aspen’s hospitals are actively supporting the NHS and the wider community. We remain committed to continuing to provide such support as a part of the wider working relationship established between the Independent Sector and NHS.
Across the Aspen Healthcare Group, our hospitals have worked collaboratively with some of the country’s largest NHS Trusts including St George’s, Barts Health NHS Trust, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust. We have provided care and treatment for many of the most urgent patients. By committing our resources with speed and efficiency, our work at Aspen over the past year to support the NHS during the pandemic has meant that:
During the first peak in the spring of 2020, Aspen’s hospitals loaned significant numbers of of anaesthetic ventilators, syringe pumps and syringe drivers, together with and other essential equipment to support the establishment of the Nightingale Hospitals. Since then, our support for the NHS has evolved and extended beyond traditional surgery, with our teams also supporting paediatric dental cases and creating outpatient space for Parkinson’s Clinics and Falls Clinic. Parkside Private Hospital in Wimbledon was also used as a step-down facility for ambulatory trauma cases, plastics and diagnostics for St George’s Hospital. Likewise, in Sheffield, Claremont Private Hospital is continuing to work hand-in-hand with Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, providing urgent urology and orthopaedic treatment for patients requiring time-critical procedures. In London, The Holly Private Hospital and Highgate Hospital also continue to support the local NHS as necessary.
Over the past year, our teams have worked closely with NHS colleagues to overcome logistical, clinical and administrative barriers in order to offer a safe service for patients. We have forged new ties and strengthened existing bonds with NHS colleagues, as evidenced by the positive feedback received.
Commenting on the collaboration with The Holly Private Hospital, Lee Basso, North East London Independent Sector Programme Director, said: “This partnership with our friends at The Holly Private Hospital has delivered a quick, safe, and high quality service, ensuring our patients continue to receive the high level of care they need and deserve. Such an arrangement is testament to the behind the scenes hard work of the teams at Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust, Homerton University Hospital Foundation Trust, Barts Health NHS Trust and The Holly, and is a positive example of how the NHS and private sector can work together.
Alison Balchin, an NHS patient who had her hip operation at The Holly Private Hospital, said: “From the moment I arrived, the staff tried their best to put me at ease which was hugely comforting. I was grateful to all of them for providing me with on-going reassurance and kindness in what was an extremely anxious situation. Surgery went seamlessly and I only have praise for the high standard of treatment and care I received.”
Michael Harper, Chief Operating Officer, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust said: “We already had a working relationship with Claremont Hospital and so it was relatively easy to determine how they could help during the pandemic and support us in continuing to deliver as much care as possible for those patients whose care otherwise may have been paused.”