Landmark partnership allows Walsall NHS patients to receive urgent cancer care at Spire Little Aston hospital

• Over 150 NHS patients seen at Spire Little Aston
• Routine operations also starting up, reducing NHS waiting lists

Hundreds of Walsall patients are receiving urgent cancer treatment at Spire Little Aston Hospital in Sutton Coldfield, under a landmark partnership agreement between Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust and Spire Healthcare, allowing the Trust to focus on caring for COVID positive patients during the pandemic.

The partnership began in April and under the agreement, Spire is treating patients with a range of cancers, including breast, skin and gynaecological cancer. Over 150 NHS patients have received cancer surgery at Spire Little Aston since the partnership began, and NHS clinicians have come over and performed surgery at the hospital for the first time.

Since mid May, Spire Little Aston has also started to play its part in reducing the increased NHS waiting list caused by the pandemic, by carrying out routine orthopaedic operations for Walsall NHS patients.

The partnership between Spire Healthcare and Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust has been made possible under a national agreement, which Spire, alongside the whole of the independent sector, has signed to make its staff, equipment and facilities available to the NHS at cost only to help alleviate the pressure caused by the pandemic.

Ed Ireland, Hospital Director at Spire Little Aston, said: “At a time when there is so much focus on tackling the coronavirus, it is vitally important that people who don’t have COVID-19 but are worried about their health, come forward for treatment.

“I’m pleased to say that we at Spire Little Aston are open and specially adapted to provide cancer care for NHS patients in a safe, COVID-free environment. We’re very proud to be working together with the NHS to do our best for patients in the Midlands, during this once-in-a-lifetime health crisis.”  

Richard Beeken, Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust Chief Executive, said: “During this challenging time we have continued to provide care for those with life-threatening illnesses along with patients who have cancer and other urgent conditions.

“This partnership with Spire Little Aston has really helped our efforts to do so and given cancer patients an additional level of reassurance as many have been, understandably, anxious about coming into hospital during the pandemic."

Jayne Jones, an NHS patient who received treatment at Spire Little Aston, said:

“I was scared that I might have to wait for my treatment because of the pandemic, who knows how long, all the time fearful of the cancer growing or spreading. The collaboration between Walsall Manor and Spire Little Aston meant that I was lucky enough to be given my surgery at Spire. I am so very grateful to Spire Little Aston and I really want to thank the nurses who were smiling, friendly and very attentive despite having to wear full PPE.

“Anyone who notices a change in their breast should go and see their GP as soon as possible, the current pandemic is no reason to delay seeking medical advice.”