New unit brings shorter wait times for gastro and endoscopy patients

Gastroenterology and endoscopy patients from Blackpool and the Fylde Coast can expect shorter wait times for diagnostic procedures after a new purpose-built unit was opened at Blackpool Sports Centre, on Stanley Park on Monday.

The new, Mobile Endoscopy Unit will provide additional capacity to ensure the Trust delivers its increased demand for endoscopy diagnostic procedures over a 14-month period and has been made possible thanks to an innovative partnership between Blackpool Teaching Hospitals and Remedy Healthcare Solutions.

Work on the temporary facility at Blackpool Sports Centre began less than two months ago, but is now ready to accept the first referred patients for procedures.

Remedy has already been working to assist in reducing waiting lists at the Trust by adopting an additional treatment room within the Gastroenterology Unit at Blackpool Victoria Hospital. This additional activity has already allowed for close to 900 patients to have their procedures since the beginning of August.

The new unit on Stanley Park is being run independently by Remedy Healthcare Solutions and will deliver the service under Blackpool Teaching Hospital processes and protocols.

The self-contained unit has the appropriate medical equipment, treatment rooms, reception area, admission and preparation room and recovery space.

Speaking about the opening of the new unit, Gareth Hobson, Deputy Chief Operating Officer at Blackpool Teaching Hospitals said: “The Mobile Endoscopy Unit at Blackpool Sports Centre will have a significant impact on the provision of care for the region’s endoscopy patients. It will help us manage both our waiting lists and the increased demand for this service.

“We have worked closely with the Remedy Healthcare Solutions team and we are confident that they will provide a high quality service to our patients.

“As a Trust we have been able to plan and complete more procedures within our own gastroenterology department thanks to this partnership with Remedy. Now thanks to this unit, patients will be diagnosed sooner, and they can start treatment earlier as a result of the enhanced capacity.”

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