Bath MP Wera Hobhouse recently praised the standards of care offered to NHS patients during a visit to private hospital Bath Clinic at Combe Down.
Adam Busby, Wera Hobhouse MP, Kogie Naidoo and David Hare MBE | Photo © Bath Clinic
Mrs Hobhouse visited the hospital, run by Circle Health Group, on Friday 23rd May to understand more about the Patient Choice framework.
As the city’s only private hospital, the 46-bed site offers access to a range of treatments to NHS, privately insured and self-pay patients.
Since it opened over 40 years ago, the hospital has been an essential part of the local healthcare economy, working closely with NHS commissioners to try to improve access and reduce waiting times in the area.
Following a recent inspection by the hospital regulator, the CQC, Bath Clinic was rated ‘Good’ overall, with an ‘Outstanding’ rating in the caring category.
The hospital specialises in orthopaedic, general surgery, gynaecology, urology, cardiology, ENT and ophthalmology.
On arrival, the Bath MP was met by Executive Director Kogie Naidoo, Group Clinical Director Adam Busby and Independent Healthcare Providers Network (IHPN) CEO, David Hare MBE.
During the tour, Mrs Hobhouse saw first-hand the state-of-the-art facilities available to patients.
She heard about the increasing number of her constituents opting to access NHS treatment privately, with all patients being guaranteed a choice of local NHS and independent hospitals under the NHS constitution.
While touring the facilities, Mrs Hobhouse met staff who shared how proud they were of the contribution they and the hospital make to the delivery of NHS care locally.
The MP also met patients who had chosen to have their treatment delivered privately, citing long waits as a key reason for going to Bath Clinic.
Earlier this year, the Government published its ‘Elective Care Plan’, renewing a commitment to give NHS patients the right to choose from a ‘shortlist’ of local hospitals, ‘including providers in the independent sector paid for by the NHS.’
Commenting on her visit, Mrs Hobhouse said: “We Liberal Democrats believe that people should be in control of their own lives and health and that means everyone should get the care they need, when they need it, where they need it.
“With access to care still the biggest health challenge in the area, the Bath Clinic provides a vital and reassuring facility for both NHS and privately-funded patients to access excellent healthcare in a timely fashion.
“I am keen to continue conversations with relevant stakeholders to see how we can improve this collaboration still further, and get more patients seen, and treated, more quickly.
“We are fortunate to have such a well-established centre with a trusted reputation, delivering high standards of care, and fast treatment times, here in our city.
“Their hardworking and professional teams are helping to bring down waiting lists and improve the quality of care in our region, so that people can live longer, healthier lives.”
Kogie Naidoo, Executive Director of Bath Clinic, said: “It was a pleasure to welcome Mrs Hobhouse to Bath Clinic and share with her personally the work we are doing to improve access to care and champion the patient’s right to choose.
“We remain committed to working collaboratively with NHS commissioners to slash waiting times and to provide patients with the treatment they need at a time and place convenient to them.”
