HCA streamlines its services across four London hospitals

Private provider HCA Healthcare UK has launched a 24/7 Acute Admissions Service for patients needing urgent, acute and complex unplanned care.

It will provide streamlined treatment pathways for patients with acute conditions, such as:

• Respiratory – including pneumonia and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
• Neurological – such as acute confusion, worsening dementia and seizures
• Cardiac – heart failure, arrhythmias, blood clots, pulmonary embolism and deep vein thrombosis
• GI, liver and HPB conditions – including biliary problems, acute appendicitis and intestinal obstruction.

The service manages the entire acute admissions referral process for GPs and consultants in the UK, providing care for patients across four hospitals in London: The Wellington Hospital, The Lister Hospital, The Princess Grace Hospital and London Bridge Hospital.

HCA UK has the capacity to support admissions from both private and NHS referrers seeking care for patients. They must be over 18 and can access through private medical insurance (PMI) or self-pay.

Patients admitted through the Acute Admissions Service will be triaged by a consultant physician when they arrive.

HCA UK has also introduced a private ambulance service to facilitate 24/7 ambulance transfers from home, GP practice or NHS or private hospital to an HCA UK hospital.

Neil Buckley, HCA UK's VP of Physician Services Group, said: “The 24/7 co-ordination from our medical Concierge Centre team and personalised patient care provided by our consultants, doctors and nurses, coupled with the launch of our new private ambulance transfer service, will ensure that patients with acute conditions receive the quick, quality care that they require.”

In the latest issue of ITIJ, private medical insurance and healthcare was discussed in terms of the current economic situation worldwide.