W
ith seven world-class hospitals and four outpatient medical centres in London, we are the private hospitals of choice for the successful treatment of serious and complex medical conditions. We also achieve some of the highest patient outcome and survival rates in the UK and our hospitals are virtually MRSA-free*
Our hospitals are, The Harley Street Clinic (W1G 8BJ), The Lister Hospital (SW1W 8RH), London Bridge Hospital (SE1 2PR), The Portland Hospital (W1W 5AH), The Princess Grace Hospital (W1U 5NY) and The Wellington Hospital (NW8 9LE). We also run the highly specialised private cancer treatment unit at University College Hospital (Harley Street at UCH) in London.
HCA International and the Laing & Buisson Independent Healthcare Awards 2009 (Oct 2009)
HCA International, London’s No. 1 private hospital group, were delighted to win four major awards at the annual Laing & Buisson Independent Healthcare Awards on 22 October, 2009. The awards are presented for outstanding achievement in the Independent Sector provider. HCA was nominated and reached finalist stages for six of the 14 categories, going on to win more awards than any other hospital group.
The winning awards are as follows:
• The Tracheostomy Team at the Wellington Hospital were recognized for their outstanding Medical Practice in improving the care and outcome for patients with tracheostomy.
• The Critical Care Team of the Wellington Hospital were winners in the Healthcare Outcomes category for the better-than-predicted survival of the patients cared for in ITUs in both North and South towers.
• There was recognition for HCA’s implementation of cutting edge techniques to significantly improve patient care in the Innovations Award with the adoption of a Patient Keeper.
• Finally, HCA won the Best Use of Technology award for its deployment of remote access to imaging (PACS) enhancing patient care.
The two finalist nominations were: Excellence in Risk Management for the Fire Safety Programme at HCA. Excellence in Hotel Services Award for E-Qit at Infection Control Service Ltd.
All of the above awards underline HCA’s efforts to continually improve and enhance the care that is delivered to its patients.
For more information on HCA International visit: www.hcahospitals.co.uk
CLINICAL SERVICES
Featured Article of the Month
November 2009
Gamma Knife - Brain Tumour Treatment Without The Need for Surgery
The London Gamma Knife Centre at Barts is a unique partnership between HCA International, which forms part of the world’s largest private hospital group, and Barts and The London NHS Trust, providing a high quality, cost-effective, radiosurgical service for patients with certain brain tumours – often benign lesions in which surgery can be avoided or instead be less radical as small areas of residual tumour can subsequently be treated with the Gamma Knife, but also for distant spread of cancers elsewhere to the brain, for which surgery may not be possible .
The Gamma Knife® offers patients a number of advantages over treatments such as microsurgery or standard radiotherapy. These include fewer post-treatment complications and faster recovery times. Worldwide, over 500,000 patients have already been helped by this non-surgical procedure that delivers radiation therapy precisely and safely where it is needed.
With clinical input from specialists from St Bartholomew’s Hospital, the Centre was originally established in 1999 at Harley Street where over a thousand patients from all over the UK and overseas were treated. Acquired by HCA, and run by The Harley Street Clinic, the Centre was accredited to receive NHS patients in 2002 and then moved to new, purpose-built premises at Barts, one of the UK’s leading NHS cancer treatment and research centres in 2009.
The Centre uses the state-of-the-art Perfexion™ Gamma Knife machine which offers the advantages of increased patient comfort and more conformal dose planning with less risk of damage to adjoining healthy areas.
Continuous clinical input from the hospital and its consultants ensures The London Gamma Knife Centre at Barts provides high quality, specialised care. This is enhanced by its multi-disciplinary clinical team (MDT) comprising neurosurgeons, clinical oncologists, neuro-radiologists and physicists who discuss every referral to the Centre before treatment is approved. All patients must meet strict clinical protocols and the MDT ensures that only suitable patients are accepted for treatment.
Further information can be found at:
Telephone: +44(0)20 7601 8410
Fax: +44(0)20 7601 8411
The London Gamma Knife Centre at Barts
Kenton Lucas Building
St Bartholomew’s Hospital
LONDON
EC1A 7BE
Award-winning actor and singer, Martin Kemp has officially opened The London Gamma Knife ® Centre at St Bartholomew’s Hospital
(Dec 2009)The London Gamma Knife Centre at Barts is run by staff from The Harley Street Clinic, which together with the space provided by Barts and The London NHS Trust forms a unique partnership between two world class medical centres. High quality, cost-effective, radiosurgical service is provided for patients with certain brain tumours – many of which have been deemed to be inoperable.
Martin, who hit the headlines when he developed a benign, but fast-growing brain tumour 14 years ago, had the tumour surgically removed and a metal plate fitted in his skull.
A further area of tumour was found and doctors said a second operation was too dangerous and he underwent an early form of "targeted" radiotherapy at Barts.
He said "It's great that Gamma Knife surgery is now available and that so many more people will have access to this kind of treatment with the opening of the new centre at Barts."
The Gamma Knife offers patients a number of advantages over treatments such as microsurgery or standard radiotherapy. These include fewer post-treatment complications and faster recovery times.
Consultant Neurosurgeon, Ian Sabin, said: "Having the Gamma Knife Centre at Barts fits our profile as a leading cancer treatment and research centre. Patients benefit because it means we can collaborate closely with the other specialties here in terms of their treatment."
Saving lives with the Cyberknife!
(Article Summer 2009)
The CyberKnife® is an image-guided robotic radiosurgery system designed to treat both cancerous and non-cancerous tumours anywhere in the body as a pain-free, non-invasive alternative to surgery. Treatment can be delivered as an outpatient procedure and does not require anaesthesia. Patients with previously inoperable conditions, have access to a safe and effective treatment that helps them get back to their normal lives faster than ever before. For the first time in the UK, this technology is now available at the CyberKnife Centre London – part of the renowned Harley Street Clinic.
The CyberKnife is capable of delivering highly precise beams of radiation. The rapid fall-off at the perimeter of the target area ensures that normal tissue is avoided, and side effects of treatment are kept to a minimum. The CyberKnife uses real-time imaging to ensure accurate and instantaneous tracking of the target area allowing tumours to be tracked during breathing - CyberKnife literally ‘breathes’ with the patient!
Treatment Process
Fiducial placement – some patients will require the placement of tiny metal markers (or ‘fiducials’) into or near the treatment area prior to having the immobilisation device/s made. This is usually a day case procedure and performed one week before the treatment.
Treatment – During a CyberKnife procedure the patient lies on a comfortable, custom designed treatment table, which automatically positions the patient. The procedure is painless and non-invasive, so no anaesthesia is required. The treatment generally lasts between 30-90 minutes and involves the administration of between 100-200 radiation beams delivered from different directions, each lasting from 10-15 seconds. Patients typically are able to leave the facility immediately after the procedure.
Scanning – Prior to treatment, patients undergo imaging procedures to determine the size, shape and location of the target area. Scanning such as a standard high-resolution CT or, for certain tumours, MRI or PET may also be used. The CyberKnife treatment planning software integrates CT scans and other imaging data into the pre-treatment planning process.
Planning – After the scanning, the image data is digitally transferred to the CyberKnife system’s treatment planning workstation. Here the treating physician identifies the exact size, shape and location of the tumour. A qualified Physician, Radiation Oncologist or Physicist then uses the CyberKnife software to generate a treatment plan. This plan determines the desired radiation dose to the tumour whilst avoiding damage to surrounding healthy tissue.
Follow-up – Follow-up imaging, generally either CT or MRI, is usually performed in the weeks and months following the treatment to confirm the sterilisation and eventual shrinkage of the tumour.
Side effects of CyberKnife Treatment
Side effects are minimal. There is little or no recovery time and most patients can return to their normal activities almost immediately. Tumours currently treated include those of the pancreas, liver, brain, spine, lung, head and neck, prostate and sarcomas. Each case forwarded by a medical specialist will be considered by a full multi-disciplinary team
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