Consultants back clinic and hospital

Jan 9 2008 by Sion Barry, Western Mail

MEDICAL consultants in South Wales have partnered with Nuffield Hospitals in a £20m health development that will create up to 100 new jobs in Cardiff.

The development will take place in two phases, starting with the opening of a clinic at Celtic Gateway in Cardiff Bay this summer.

The clinic will provide outpatient, diagnostic and rehabilitation services as well as day case surgery. Services and resources offered by the current Vale Clinic, based at the Vale Hotel, Golf and Spa Resort, Hensol in the Vale of Glamorgan, will transfer to the new facility. Physiotherapy services will continue to be provided from the Hensol site as well as the new clinic.

It will be followed in 2009 by a new hospital, subject to planning consent, on the Hensol Castle Estate, which will provide a range of outpatient and inpatient surgical and medical services.

The partnership between the consultants and Nuffield Hospitals is under a new vehicle – Vale Healthcare. Nuffield Hospitals is the UK’s largest charity and not-for-profit independent healthcare provider.

Tim Atter, business director, said, “My fellow directors, consultants and colleagues at the Vale Clinic believe that this joint venture with Nuffield Hospitals will go a long way towards addressing the needs of patients and clinicians in South Wales.

“Our mission for Vale Healthcare will be to provide excellence in healthcare to the local community and to build upon the clinic’s reputation in the years ahead.“

Facilities in the clinic will be developed with the use of advanced technology to ensure that patients receive the highest standard of care in a modern, friendly and professional environment.

The clinic will have an advanced MRI scanner unit and other modern diagnostic facilities provided by Nuffield Diagnostics.

A comprehensive wellness service focusing on the promotion of good health will be provided by Nuffield Proactive.

Patricia Cassidy, commercial director of Nuffield Hospitals, said, “The initiative marks the first major step into Wales by Nuffield Hospitals and combines our strengths as a national healthcare provider with a well-established local clinic and the commitment of eminent consultants from the area.

“We are looking forward to working with our colleagues at Vale Clinic, who have built a strong reputation since being established in 2001 and are ideally equipped to deliver these new healthcare opportunities.

“It will mean improved choice and the highest standards of healthcare to the growing numbers of people across South Wales who wish to access services in the independent private sector.

Work on the new clinic will start shortly with professional support from Cooke and Arkwright, Davis Langdon, Capital Law, Kendall Kingscott, HW Corporate Finance and White Young and Green.

Established in 1957, Nuffield Hospitals is a registered charity with 30 hospitals in England and one in Scotland.