Demand for healthcare is at an all-time high, with an estimated 7.5 million people waiting for elective care treatment across the NHS in England. Locally, within the Black Country our current waiting lists are estimated at around 250,000 (with around 33,500 patients waiting for an inpatient procedure) with demand growing by approximately 4% on average per year.
We know that waiting for treatment is a concern for local people and local health leaders alike and we have to find new ways of working to improve access and quality without increasing the costs.
The four acute provider trusts in the Black Country (Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust, The Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust, The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust and Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust) who are part of the Black Country Provider Collaborative are proposing to make changes to urology service provision in our hospitals. The aim being to plan and deliver better, faster, and safer care for urological cancer patients in the Black Country.
In short, providers of urological services across the Black Country are considering how they might improve the provision of complex cancer care and routine urological care. The initial focus of the clinically led work is on improving some of our urological cancer provision, in the following ways:
- Development of a centralised Renal Surgery Centre (Nephrectomies, and Partial Nephrectomies) – preferred site would be Russell’s Hall Hospital. This would mean that patients may receive their care from a hospital in the Black Country which may not be the closest to where they live.
- Expansion of the existing Pelvic Surgery Centre (Bladders and Prostatectomies) – preferred site would be New Cross Hospital.
- Development of a centralised service for Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy (PCNL) at a designated centre – preferred site would be Sandwell General Hospital.
The proposals for improving the way in which services are planned and delivered include many positive benefits for the patients such as:
- Improved outcomes for patients e.g. post cancer surgery patient survival rates
- Improved quality of life through faster access to surgery e.g. meeting national targets
- Improved satisfaction with level of care and the positive patient experience received
- Reduction in patient waiting times e.g. meeting 31-day, and 62-day national cancer targets
- Better use of theatre capacity across all four provider Trusts including use of robotics e.g. improved theatre productivity
- Create more opportunities for Black County patients to access care from Black County Providers (rather than needing to travel to other areas) – care closer to home.
- Support elective recovery post COVID pandemic and support the reduction in Cancer 62-day backlog
- Development of an expert workforce e.g. better skilled workforce, with greater retention of the Black Country professional and easier recruitment for difficult to fill roles.
The Black Country Provider Collaborative are inviting patients and members of the public to share their views on these proposed changes. Particularly how the proposed changes will impact upon travel arrangements for patients and their family members, friends, carers. To have your say , please complete this short survey. For more information, please visit: https://blackcountryprovidercollaborative.nhs.uk/developments/urology-services-in-the-black-country/