The Private sector and NHS are joining forces to create the biggest cancer network in Europe. HCA International, which owns six leading private hospitals in London, has joined forces with the Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust to develop the first comprehensive private patient cancer treatment centre of its kind in Essex.
The Trust and HCA have signed an agreement to develop and operate a full service private cancer centre at Queen’s Hospital in Romford. The centre, which will be known as Harley Street at Queens, will have 16 in-patient beds and seven day case chemotherapy beds which will be supported by dedicated critical care facilities. It will provide private cancer services for patients living in Essex and North-East London. Radiotherapy will be delivered by one of the latest linear accelerators and it is anticipated that the unit will be registered with the government’s Care Quality Commission and be ready to accept patients in November.
The Trust Chief Executive John Goulston said the agreement with HCA would benefit the trust and the community in many ways. “We already deliver outstanding cancer services to our NHS patients and the extra income generated for the Trust by these private cancer services will be reinvested to help provide a range of services for the benefit of our local patients,” he said.
HCA’s Chief Executive Officer for NHS Ventures, Sarah Fisher, said the scheme was highly innovative and would deliver world class cancer care for its patients. “The new unit will enable private patients to have fast diagnosis and treatment much closer to where they live and avoid an arduous journey to hospitals in Central London,” she said. “We are also exploring ways of strengthening our relationship with the Trust in order to bring further benefits to both NHS and private patients.”
A number of articles by relevant consultants already appear on the totalhealth site including cervical cancer by Miss Adeola Olaitan. Further educational cancer items will be published in the forthcoming months.
Abnormal, uncontrolled cell division resulting in a malignant tumour that may invade surrounding tissues or spread to distant parts of the body.
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Relating either to the cervix (the neck of the womb) or to the cervical vertebrae in the neck (cervical spine).
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The use of chemical substances to treat disease, particularly cancer.
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The process of determining which condition a patient may have.
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The basic unit of genetic material carried on chromosomes.
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A large abdominal organ that has many important roles including the production of bile and clotting factors, detoxification, and the metabolism of proteins, carbohydrates and fats.
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