Preston-based Greater Lancashire Hospital (GLH) is celebrating a hat-trick of new healthcare service launches, only six weeks after announcing its seven-figure acquisition of First Trust Hospital on D’Urton Lane.

Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT), Ophthalmology and Orthopaedics have all been introduced as consultant-led services with immediate appointments available.

The services were specially selected as priority areas for the local community, with all three currently classed as priorities based on current waiting times for NHS patients throughout Lancashire. GLH will also offer times to private and healthcare insurance claimants.

Family-owned GLH announced the acquisition of the First Trust Site at the end of October, comprising of both buildings and equipment.

The site has received formal CQC Certificate of Registration under the GLH name meaning it can now provide inpatient services, while also greatly increasing the volume of outpatient work and diagnostics it undertakes.

GLH, which was previously situated on Millennium City Park for the last decade, has always worked with Lancashire-based NHS healthcare trusts to decrease waiting times for NHS patients.

The hospital’s healthcare pathway is unique in that patients are seen by some of the UK’s top consultants and clinicians from their first appointment, aiding a quicker diagnosis and a shortening of their healthcare journey.

Gwam Rajiah, Executive Chairman of Greater Lancashire Hospital, said:

“For us to truly support local NHS Trusts we need to understand the patient landscape and ENT, Ophthalmology and Orthopaedics have long waiting lists which need to be urgently addressed. That’s why their launch was a priority.

“For a decade now we have worked with the NHS, hand-in-hand, delivering services, many of which are below national tariffs. We have a combination of day case and en-suit bedrooms to facilitate both day surgery and patients requiring overnight stays.”

“We have two general anaesthetic operating theatres that can accommodate a variety of surgical procedures from day case to general anaesthetics and diagnostics.”

“We’re committed to creating a truly world class hospital with investment taking place daily that is helping forge the future of healthcare for Lancashire residents and medical professionals in the North West,” concluded Gwam.

Greater Lancashire Hospital (GLH) has engaged Amit Shah as both orthopaedic surgeon and Head of Clinical Strategy & Development as it targets an ambitious expansion of healthcare services.

Mr Shah will utilise his senior management expertise to attract even more leading consultants and clinicians to work at GLH’s new hospital in Preston’s D’Urton Lane.

The consultant orthopaedic surgeon will also launch a groundbreaking treatment for knee pain called Arthrosamid, an injectable hydrogel which has been proven to help patients with knee osteoarthritis remain active for up to five years following a single injection.

Family-owned Bespoke Healthcare Group, which runs GLH, successfully acquired First Trust Hospital’s building and equipment this autumn and will use the site to decrease waiting times for NHS patients throughout the Lancashire area while increasing its private and healthcare insurance provisions.

Mr Shah said: “Greater Lancashire Hospital is growing rapidly and I’m greatly looking forward to helping shape the next exciting chapter of its evolution. In particular, I’ll be working with the senior management team to ensure high-level clinical appointments.

“We know all the healthcare services in the North West where there are large waiting times or there isn’t the provision to treat people locally, and it’s these areas where we will look to expand in cooperation with the NHS to help patients get treatment sooner rather than later.

“The availability of Arthrosamid injections at the new clinics I’m launching at Greater Lancashire Hospital will be a gamechanger for anyone who’s previously been held back by knee osteoarthritis pain.” 

In addition to having more than 28 years’ experience in orthopaedics, Mr Shah has been a consultant orthopaedic surgeon working for large North West NHS hospitals since 2013. 

His work covers all adult hip and knee pathologies including sports injuries, dealing with painful degenerative joints, and carrying out several hundred hip and knee replacements every year. He is also a senior lecturer with Edge Hill University in Ormskirk, Lancashire.

GLH can now offer Arthrosamid after signing a contract with global medical supplies manufacturer Contura Orthopaedics to provide the injections.

Gwam Rajiah, Executive Chairman of Greater Lancashire Hospital and the Bespoke Healthcare Group, said: “This is a major step forward for people living with knee osteoarthritis pain here in the North West – and Mr Shah is a fantastic addition to our team.

“This deal to provide Arthrosamid injections demonstrates our ongoing commitment to provide the best chronic pain care for our patients as we expand our services after taking possession of our new hospital premises.

“We remain 100% committed to providing proven, innovative treatments that leverage the skills of our expanding team of consultants and surgeons as well as unleashing the full potential of our new facilities.”

(L-R): Gwam Rajiah, Executive Chairman of Greater Lancashire Hospital and Bespoke Healthcare Group pictured with leading North West-based hip and knee consultant, Mr Amit Shah.

Arthrosamid® is a breakthrough non-surgical injection designed to provide sustained pain relief and improve mobility – helping patients get back to doing what they love, without the limitations of knee pain.

• Minimally invasive
• Long-term pain relief
• Clinically proven results

If knee pain has been holding you back, now there’s a new way forward. Now available at Greater Lancashire Hospital.

The First Trust site has already received formal CQC Certificate of Registration under the Bespoke Healthcare Group, meaning it can now provide inpatient services for the first time, while also greatly increasing the volume of outpatient work and diagnostics it undertakes.

Family-owned GLH will use the new site to decrease waiting times for NHS patients throughout the Lancashire area while increasing its private and healthcare insurance provisions. The management team are planning a largescale expansion of services it can offer.

GLH’s healthcare pathway is unique in that patients are seen by some of the UK’s top consultants and clinicians from their first appointment, aiding a quicker diagnosis and a shortening of their healthcare journey.

Gwam Rajiah, Executive Chairman of Greater Lancashire Hospital, said: “We’re committed to creating a truly world class hospital that helps forge the future of healthcare for residents and medical professionals in the North West. The CQC Certificate of Registration is the very first step on that road.

“Our new building has 22 beds including 14 en-suite, which means we can now provide patients with overnight stays for the first time.

“It also has two state-of-the-art general anaesthetic operating theatres, which will ensure that even more patients can receive worldclass diagnosis and treatment under the same roof.”

The hospital intends to offer all its existing services from the new D’Urton Lane site as well as a raft of new ones, which will be announced at a later date.

People using NHS England’s Patient Choice Framework will continue to receive their consultations at GLH’s original facility in Preston’s Millennium City Park until the new site becomes fully operational.

She will also liaise closely with NHS Trusts across the North West to promote Greater Lancashire Hospital’s listing on NHS England’s Patient Choice Framework, which enables GPs and their NHS patients to book the most convenient appointments for their requirements. 

Based in Ribbleton’s Millennium City Park, Greater Lancashire Hospital was founded in 2014 and works closely with some of the UK’s best-known consultants and medical practitioners.

Sandy, Head of Clinical Services, said:

“Greater Lancashire Hospital was created by local people for the direct benefit of local residents – and this ethos was one of the main reasons why I wanted to work here.

“The facilities are purpose-built with a carefully designed layout that ensures everything works seamlessly. For example, the general anaesthetic theatre is right at the side of the ambulatory care department, which can be rare within some hospitals.

“In addition to managing the general anaesthetic theatre, I’ll also be liaising closely with NHS Trusts from across the region as well as our own roster of outstanding consultants to ensure that patients receive exceptional care from their first visit onwards.”

Sandy has extensive experience in management, having spent a decade overseeing regional operations within private healthcare, following several years of service in the public healthcare sector.

The mother-of-one from Wigan has previously completed a part-time law degree at University of Central Lancashire while working full-time. 

Gwam Rajiah, Executive Chairman of Greater Lancashire Hospital, said:

“Sandy is a fantastic addition to our growing team – and she’s arrived at a key moment in the hospital’s evolution.

“In recent months, our general anaesthetic theatre has become increasingly busy as a direct result of our listing on NHS England’s Patient Choice Framework, which allows NHS patients and their GPs to book the most convenient appointment with a consultant of their choosing.

“I know that Sandy’s looking forward to liaising with NHS Trusts across the North West to ensure that even more patients can benefit from our commitment to supporting them along every step of their healthcare journey.”

Greater Lancashire Hospital remains the only hospital in the area to be rated “outstanding” for patient care by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

FINAL PHASE OF NEW £1.5M ANNEX

• Greater Lancashire Hospital receives planning permission to finish major new annex 
• £1.5m annex will provide state-of-the-art facilities at the North West’s heart 
• ‘Phase One’ was successfully completed ahead of schedule earlier this summer  

Greater Lancashire Hospital (GLH) has been granted planning permission to commence construction work on the final phase of its state-of-the-art £1.5m annex. 

The new building – which will operate in unison with the hospital’s original adjacent site in Preston – will substantially increase the capacity of NHS patients it can welcome from across the North West when it opens in spring 2025. 

Greater Lancashire Hospital was recently added to the NHS Choose & Book NHS e-Referral system which was introduced to maximise patient choice.

The Ribbleton-based hospital has now received the green light from Preston City Council to build a large glass atrium at the front of its new annex, increase the size of windows in the same building and construct a new energy efficiency resource hub to one side.

In addition, the family-owned hospital has received permission to create a new entrance on Longridge Road and to increase the number of free parking spaces available to patients from 35 to 60. 

These developments follow the successful conclusion of ‘Phase One’ earlier this summer, which resulted in the fit-out of the annex’s new ultrasound suite, dedicated teleradiology suite, seven consulting rooms and a reception to the clinical suite.

The original Greater Lancashire Hospital has been transforming the health of locally-based NHS and private patients since it was founded by Preston-headquartered entrepreneurs Sara and Gwam Rajiah in 2014.

Gwam Rajiah, executive chairman of Greater Lancashire Hospital, said: “We’re creating a state-of-the-art, purpose-built hospital at the North West’s heart – and that’s fabulous for patients as well as this region’s medical professionals.

“Our new annex will ensure that the very best diagnostics and treatment are available to even more NHS and private patients precisely when this is required.”

Mr Rajiah expects the new facility will create at least 50 new clinical roles and an additional 20 clerical roles when it opens next spring.

The plans for the new 10,000 sq ft annex, which occupies the former Synetics building, have been drawn up by Preston-based architects RPS Design Group.

The building work is being overseen by Greater Lancashire Hospital’s director of investment and development, Myles Rajiah, who said: “This is the final phase of the annex’s development, and we expect work to commence imminently and last until next spring.

“The new entrance on Longridge Road will transform the accessibility of both our existing hospital as well as the new annex and we also intend to landscape the grounds to ensure the greatest visual appeal from the moment patients arrive.”

Greater Lancashire Hospital, which is part of Preston-headquartered Bespoke Healthcare Group, is the only hospital in the area that has currently received ‘outstanding’ for patient care by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

Greater Lancashire Hospital selected for NHS choose & book system

• Greater Lancashire Hospital listed for first time on major NHS ‘Choose and Book’ platform
• Patients to see leading consultants at first appointment to deliver shorter healthcare journeys
• GPs and patients can now opt for “a “local hospital run for local people by local people” 

Patients across the North West can now receive treatment from some of the UK’s leading consultants at the earliest opportunity as a direct result of Greater Lancashire Hospital being selected for the NHS ‘Choose and Book’ portal for the first time.

The Preston-based hospital’s extensive range of services have been fully registered on the online booking platform enabling patients and their GPs to choose the best specialist and most convenient time for their requirements. 

Greater Lancashire Hospital is unique in that patients will be seen by some of the UK’s top consultants and clinicians at their first appointment, meaning a quicker diagnosis and a shortening of their healthcare journey.

Services currently include neurology, neurophysiology, cardiology, women’s health, urology, dermatology, radiology and vascular medicine. Other areas of out-patient expertise include ear, nose and throat (ENT), plastic and cosmetic surgery, pain management, eye surgery as well as respiratory medicine.

Based in Ribbleton’s Millennium City Park, Greater Lancashire Hospital remains the only hospital in the area to be classed “outstanding” for patient care by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

“Our registration with the Choose and Book platform allows us to take this to the next level for even more people here in Lancashire and the North West by ensuring they can see one of the UK’s best consultants as quickly and conveniently as possible.”

Choose and Book, which is also known as the NHS e-Referral Service (e-RS) Manage Your Referral system, was established in 2005 to provide patients with greater control over their healthcare. 

It allows patients to check, cancel or change their bookings online while simultaneously streamlining the whole referral process.

Gwam continued: “With all our services now live for patients across the North West through the Choose and Book portal, the decision couldn’t be simpler.

“Greater Lancashire Hospital is owned and operated by local people for local people, and we look forward to welcoming even more patients through our doors with a warm smile, a drink and nothing short of first-class service.”

Work officially begins on purpose-built annex to Greater Lancashire Hospital

• Work officially begins on purpose-built annex to Greater Lancashire Hospital
• Phase one will create a new state-of-the-art ultrasound suite and consulting rooms 
• “A Lancashire Hospital operated by local people for local people” 

Greater Lancashire Hospital has commenced building work on a £1.5m annex located at the side of its current premises in Preston.

The building will welcome NHS patients from across Lancashire and the North West when it opens in Ribbleton’s Millennium City Park this autumn.

Fit-out work has now commenced on phase one which includes a state-of-the-art ultrasound suite, dedicated physiotherapy and gym areas, seven consulting rooms as well as a reception to the clinical suite.

The original Greater Lancashire Hospital has been transforming the health of locally-based residents since it was founded by Preston-headquartered entrepreneurs Sara and Gwam Rajiah in 2014.

Working closely with some of the UK’s best-known consultants and medical practitioners, the hospital supports regional NHS trusts and private healthcare patients.

Gwam Rajiah, executive chairman of Greater Lancashire Hospital, said: “This new annex will ensure that the best medical care is available for even more Lancashire and North West people.

“But it’s also a really exciting development in the evolution of Greater Lancashire Hospital as we seek to cater for a constantly increasing appetite for our services.”

Mr Rajiah expects the new 10,000 sq ft annex – which occupies the former Synetics building – will create at least 50 new clinical roles and an additional 20 clerical roles upon completion.

Complete with 30 free car parking spaces accessible via a soon-to-be created entrance on Longridge Road, the annex will operate in unison with Greater Lancashire Hospital’s original, neighbouring site.

Among the Preston-based contractors currently working on the first phase of the annex are Wyder Construction and air conditioning specialists DD Cooling.

The building work is being overseen by Greater Lancashire Hospital’s director of investment and development, Myles Rajiah, who said: “We’re already well ahead of schedule and that’s testament to the skill, professionalism and expertise of Wyder Construction’s team.

“At any time, there are more than 50 different contractors on site – all of whom are from Preston and the surrounding area.

“The state-of-the-art air filtration and extraction system, which is also fully compliant with the strictest NHS guidelines, is the most recent component to be installed.”

Greater Lancashire Hospital, which is part of Preston-headquartered Bespoke Healthcare Group, is the only hospital in the area that has currently received ‘outstanding’ for patient care by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

The hospital is an approved supplier to the NHS which allows trusts to refer patients directly to its facilities for a wide range of NHS services ensuring that patients can be seen by medical professionals within a suitable timeframe.

Checkout our story featured in the Lancashire Post

It delves into how our family from Preston has announced the opening of our new private hospital in the heart of the city this year.

Visit the article below:

https://www.lep.co.uk/news/preston-family-to-open-a-new-private-hospital-in-the-city-here-is-everything-you-need-to-know-4499876