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Innovation in primary care | |
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Mr Raj Dhumale and Dr John Tisdale, both of whom have won national awards for their innovation in primary care, lead the clinical team providing this pioneering service. In association with three further surgeons and the surgical nursing team, they have enabled the appropriate transfer of a significant proportion of surgical work from secondary (hospital) care to primary care and now undertake 40% of the county’s local anaesthetic hernia operations as well as most carpal tunnel and vasectomy procedures. Other specialities include skin surgery and other hand surgery (such as trigger finger etc). |
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The Centre works closely with the local Primary Care Trust and NHS Hospital Trust to ensure that the development of services is appropriate and supportive of current health plans. The quality of the service is monitored closely with high patient satisfaction, whilst the cost to the healthcare budgets in Cornwall is significantly less than elsewhere nationally. It is estimated that approximately £400,000 of the Cornish healthcare budget was saved in the financial year 2005/6 through the use of the Centre’s services. | |
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National Demonstration Site | |
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In Autumn 2006 the national importance of this service was recognised by the Department of Health as a National Demonstration Site, as part of the Care Closer to Home initiative, headed by the (then) Health Minister, Lord Warner. The Probus site is one of only five selected across the country for general surgery. | |
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“We are thrilled to have received this recognition of the services now provided at Probus” said Mr Dhumale, “..which is fantastic for the staff who work so hard to maintain our high standards with a friendly welcome. The service is really a win:win scenario where patients receive high quality care in a relaxed environment, while the healthcare economy in Cornwall pays a lower than average price for it. We are also hoping to expand to provide urological and pigmented skin lesion services so the future is very exciting.” |
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