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NUFFIELD How the hospital and staff from Nuffield Health came together to help the NHS
How the hospital and staff from Nuffield Health came together to help the NHS
Since March, Nuffield Health, the UK’s largest healthcare charity, has been supporting the NHS by making its Cardiff Bay and Vale Hospitals available to NHS patients awaiting surgery.
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o far, over 90,000 NHS patients have benefitted from the care provided across 31 Nuffield Health hospitals in the UK. Providing surgery for NHS patients, the Vale hospital is based in a tranquil setting at Hensol, off junction 34 of the S M4. As a result of the pandemic, Nuffield Health became more innovative and accelerated their digital offerings to everyone. When their gyms closed, they provided online fitness classes and emotional
wellbeing guidance to keep people fit and emotionally resilient. Over 40,000 hours of online workouts have been viewed on Facebook and YouTube. Even though the gyms have re-opened, the online guides are still available to download at www. nuffieldhealth.com/at-home. The virtual physiotherapy and emotional wellbeing ‘My Therapy’ app has been hugely successful with 30,000 appointments nationally since it was launched in April. Discussions with NHS Wales were held in spring about how independent hospitals could support efforts against the coronavirus outbreak. The two Nuffield Health hospitals in the Cardiff area have been providing support with clinicians, support services and clinical equipment. In Wales, the clear focus at the request of
the NHS was about providing clean, time sensitive surgery in an environment where the risk of Covid was as low as possible. Rob Thomas, hospital director of Nuffield Health Cardiff and Vale Hospitals, said: “The Covid-19 pandemic has been a challenging time for everyone. Providing access to NHS patients to our full range of services reduces waiting times and frees up capacity within the NHS hospitals we are working with. As a charity, we are proud to be an important part of the healthcare system in Wales and to take our place alongside our NHS colleagues to care for
people affected by coronavirus and other urgent health conditions. “ Across the UK, Nuffield Health’s NHS support has been centred around the provision of treatment for patients with specific conditions, including coronavirus, medical step down, urgent elective and cancer care. Utilising capacity in the independent sector helps both NHS and privately-funded patients get the diagnosis and treatment they need and relieves pressure on the NHS. New strict safety measures have been implemented to protect patients and hospital teams from Covid-19, following guidance from the World Health Organisation, UK government, Public Health Wales and the charity’s infection prevention team. This means everyone who comes to the two hospitals in Cardiff receives high quality care in a safe environment. The Vale Hospital is a green screened zone ensuring only surgery is carried out, with the highest quality care in a safe Covidsecure environment. Existing staff adapted quickly to contribute to the national effort and staff nurse Claire Stephens is an example of how they have been going above and beyond to make patients feel comfortable. Claire at Nuffield Health Vale Hospital has gone the extra mile to support NHS breast surgery patients.
Claire has been making heart-shaped support cushions in her own time and out of sheer kindness. The cushions are used with a special bag between the arm and breast to provide comfort after surgery, especially when various tubes are still connected. The cushions have adopted the name ‘Cwtch Cushions’ from the Welsh for ‘hug’ In response, feedback from patients has been exceptional. Claire has also been donating a privacy and dignity bag to help patients undergoing surgery in these difficult times. Nuffield Health Cardiff and Vale Hospitals Matron Melanie Webber-Maybank said: “I am really proud of all our staff in how they have met the new challenges, especially nurses like Claire who focuses entirely on patient care and goes the extra mile.” One NHS patient said: “I’m very thankful to have been able to come along to the Vale hospital and have a procedure done a few weeks ago. Thank you to my doctor and all the nurses that looked after me and made my stay so comfortable.” The Nuffield Health gyms in Bridgend and Cwmbran have already re-opened and the Vale and Cardiff Bay hospitals are now able to welcome back insured and self funded patients who have been waiting patiently to access services. Some services are of course still limited by government guidelines. Remote consultations for patients are also available. Their end-to-end connected services make them stand out in their care for people from fitness and wellbeing to treatment and recovery. The Vale hospital celebrated its 10th anniversary at the beginning of June and looks forward to marking this occasion fully with staff and patients in due course. For an appointment or for more information about the services Nuffield Health provides, visit www.nuffieldhealth.com/hospitals/ cardiff-and-vale or call 02920 836714.
A very warm and professional welcome awaits.
