1000 patients celebrated in one month!

Company news

Apr 16, 2009

It is just four weeks since Greater Manchester CATS was launched to give patients in the Manchester region easier and quicker access to healthcare services and minor procedures - already 1,000 patients have been referred into the service by local GPs.

1000th patient Sharon Burke from Ashton visited the CATS site at Denton recently for her appointment and helped Care UK staff to celebrate this great achievement.  Sharon, who has been to the mobile clinical unit a couple of times in the last few weeks for treatment on her shoulder was delighted with the service.  She said: “My GP recommended I came here and I’m delighted he did. I get seen really quickly at the mobile clinical unit and it’s very convenient for where I live.  The staff are very professional and the whole experience is enjoyable and hassle-free, I really do recommend it to other people.”

As part of the service, patients have a choice of six (soon to be seven) locations where they can access a wide range of healthcare services and treatments, including general surgery, treatment for ear nose and throat problems, minor orthopaedic services, urology, diagnostic tests, such as X-ray, CT and MRI scanning facilities, as well as some physiotherapy and other therapy treatments.  The new service is being operated by Care UK, an independent sector treatment provider that has been contracted by the local NHS for a seven year period, to help bring down waiting times for NHS treatment even further.   The service involves state-of-the-art mobile clinical units that feature the very latest equipment and employs a large team of the highest quality nursing staff and consultants.

As Mark Hunt, Managing Director – Primary Care Division at Care UK, explains: “We are delighted with the early response to our new mobile clinical units.  GPs and practice staff in the local areas are recognizing the benefits they bring to their patients, such as quicker access and convenient locations based in the community, as well as the added benefit of longer opening times.  The high number of referrals and the very positive results shown by our recent patient satisfaction surveys means we are very optimistic about what this means for local people.”

Mobile clinical units now operate in the following areas, Salford, Stretford, Bolton, Denton, Longsight and Rochdale, with a seventh site planned to open in April in Oldham. All of these treatment centres will offer longer opening hours - from 7.45am to 8pm on weekdays and Saturday. Once an appointment has been booked by the GP’s practice, patients will be seen by a Consultant, normally within a 14 day period.

Dr Hunt continues: “The whole service is designed around how we can better serve patients by creating a healthcare environment which gives them quick and convenient access to treatment in comfortable surroundings that enhance their overall experience.”