Hospital opens new unit to expand health services

A hospital has opened a new wing to help expand its services.

The new Mendip Unit at Practice Plus Group Hospital in Shepton Mallet, which opened on Thursday, will be dedicated to outpatient appointments and minor treatments.

Located on Old Wells Road in the Somerset town, the private health centre was built in 2005 and is available to both NHS and private patients who are treated by its Wellsoon private healthcare service.

It is one of a number of privately-led units which have helped to make Somerset the most efficient in the West of England for bringing down NHS waiting lists.

Since the private hospital opened more than 20 years ago, its number of NHS patients has steadily increased.

Now, about 5% of operations carried out at the centre for private patients, the rest are paid for by the NHS.

Last year it was revealed NHS trusts in the south-west of England had almost doubled the amount they were spending on private companies within three years in order to reduce waiting lists.

Mary Idylls was one of the first patients to be seen at the new unit. She was given an eye injection to treat age-related macular degeneration.

"This operation has been a great help in controlling the condition," she said.

Ross Dowcett, the CEO of Practice Plus group, said: "As healthcare evolves and develops, the ability to provide healthcare in smaller settings here is far better for the patient.

"We're not utilising valuable theatre space which means we can ultimately reduce waiting times and see more patients."

Services delivered from the new unit will include oculoplastic treatments, minor surgical procedures, and minor gynaecology and carpal tunnel surgery.

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