Heartlands Treatment Centre opens its doors
Heartlands Treatment Centre (HTC) has treated its first patient. Following several years of planning and two years of construction, patients will now benefit from cutting-edge technology and a spacious environment at the £97 million centre, which is located at Heartlands Hospital, part of University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust.
The first patient was Richard Mullen from Walmley who had an MR scan in a state-of-the-art Philips scanner, which was funded by the hospital’s official charity. Cutting a ribbon to mark the occasion, Mullen said: “I was referred to the Heartlands Treatment Centre after an incident at a trampoline park resulting in me hurting my ankle. It feels good to be the first person in the new centre.”
HTC is the first large scale capital investment at Heartlands Hospital since 2008. It will offer a one stop shop for patients, bringing a range of services under one roof including diagnostics, day case procedures, endoscopy, audiology, outpatients, therapies and imaging services. The state-of-the-art technology includes theatre suites and advanced imaging equipment.
Interim chief executive Jonathan Brotherton said: “Today marks the culmination of many years of planning and hard work and I would like to thank all the staff who have made the Heartlands Treatment Centre a reality. To be able to offer our patients this superb new space and the very best in new technology, alongside the excellent clinical skills and expertise of our staff, is what we have been working towards.”
UHB Charity’s director of fund-raising Charlotte Schofield said: “Our aim as a charity is to go over and above what the NHS can provide for patients and their families. With the help of our fantastic fund-raisers, we have managed to fund one of two MRI scanners; not only will this help increase the number of patients being seen but it will also help reduce waiting times.”
Philips UK and Ireland managing director Mark Leftwich said: “Through our partnership together, the new centre features multiple Philips systems including an MR Ingenia Ambition, operating with only seven litres of helium, an MR Ingenia Elition, two DigitalDiagnost C90 x-ray systems and an Azurion image-guided therapy system.”
Picture: Heartlands Treatment Centre’s first patient Richard Mullen cuts a ribbon, with University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust staff present to celebrate the occasion.
Published on the front page of the February 2023 issue of RAD Magazine.
