Last week, Alistair Strathern MP for Hitchin visited Pinehill Hospital, part of Ramsay Health Care UK, to meet with staff, patients and doctors, and to learn more about the healthcare services provided to the local community by the hospital.
The visit provided an opportunity to better understand how Pinehill Hospital are supporting the NHS and their patients as well as understanding the offering for privately insured and self-funded patients.
Mr Strathern had a tour of key departments within the hospital, providing the opportunity to speak directly with frontline healthcare professionals about their experiences, current pressures, and the vital role the hospital plays in delivering care across Hertfordshire. Patients are referred to Pinehill directly by their GP for a variety of reasons that include specialties such as Orthopaedics, General Surgery and Ophthalmology. However, Mr Strathern appreciated the current pressures on NHS budgets and how this is currently impacting on wait times for people awaiting surgery at Pinehill.
Pinehill has also built a strong relationship with Lister Hospital, part of the East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust, to ease pressures on the NHS, particularly in cancer diagnostics and MRI scanning. Facing challenges in meeting the NHS two-week cancer diagnosis target, Lister Hospital partnered with Pinehill to deliver Straight to Test (STT) services. The STT service is a healthcare initiative aimed at expediting the diagnosis of certain cancers, the service involves a collaborative effort with various healthcare providers to ensure timely investigation and patient care. Patients are referred by their GP directly to the Trust (Lister Hospital) for a diagnosis and to help ensure the two week maximum wait is met.
The hospital is also in the process of upgrading its MRI suite. This £1.9m investment, made by Ramsay Health Care UK, will further enhance diagnostic capabilities and strengthen Pinehill’s role in cancer diagnostics and imaging.
Following the visit Alistair Strathern MP for Hitchin said:
"It was fantastic to visit Pinehill and see first-hand the important role they play in supporting the area, both as a local healthcare provider, and as an employer. It was great to meet the team, hear about the work they're doing, and see the positive impact they have on the community."
Duncan Barton, Hospital Director at Pinehill Hospital said:
"We were pleased to welcome Mr Strathern, MP for Hitchin at Pinehill Hospital. Our patients and community are at the heart of everything we do, and we were proud to show Mr Strathern around the facilities and discuss the services we offer. We are grateful for the time he spent with us, gaining valuable knowledge of our relationship with the NHS and the work we do in supporting our community in Hitchin and across Hertfordshire."