New Direct Access service for hernia patients in West Kent

A new service that will give hernia patients a quicker and more direct route to treatment is getting underway at the Care UK run Mid Kent NHS Treatment Centre, at Maidstone Hospital.

Under the NHS Choose and Book system, patients will be able to consult their GPs about the best course of action and can then be referred direct to the Centre for treatment, without any further out patient appointments. The Treatment Centre’s Booking Department will handle all referrals and then a dedicated person will conduct a telephone pre-assessment and arrange an MRSA Swab.

The launch of this new service follows a successful pilot scheme earlier this year instigated by the Mid Kent NHS Treatment Centre and West Kent Primary Care Trust. It involved 11 surgeries from the Maidstone and West Malling area, where, under Practice Based Commissioning, local GP practices undertook the commissioning of services rather than the PCT. The service will now be used by GPs across West Kent.  

As with all procedures, patients will be thoroughly examined on the day of their procedure by the surgeon and the remaining patient pathway is followed as usual. They will be cared for in a Treatment Centre that has had no cases of MRSA or C Difficile.

Currently, the typical waiting time for hernia repair operations in the south east of England is just over 90 days. The most common type of hernia, an inguinal (groin) hernia, results in more than 70,000 procedures a year in England.

Ruth Christie, General Manager at Mid Kent NHS Treatment Centre, said: “This is an exciting and important new development for us which will make treatment easier for our patients.

“Hernias can be painful and potentially dangerous to patients, who often suffer in silence for too long. Now they will be able to get treatment which will quickly get them back to living fulfilling lives again.   

“This new service here at the Mid Kent NHS Treatment Centre adds an extra dimension to how important a part we play in local healthcare provision. We will be able to control the referrals through our relationships direct with GPs and hence make life easier for patients.”

An Open Evening for GPs will be/was held at the Treatment Centre on 15 June. The evening will cover/covered referral and clinical pathways and exclusion criteria. GPs will also have/had the chance to see the facilities, meet the team and ask questions.

Patients wanting further information about the new direct access hernia service should consult their GPs. Further information is available from the Mid Kent NHS Treatment Centre website at www.midkenttreatmentcentre.nhs.uk