Private hospital takes on Norfolk and Norwich's entire chemotherapy caseload to ease burden during coronavirus outbreak

The entire chemotherapy service at the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital (N&N) has been transferred to the city's Spire hospital so treatment can continue during the coronavirus crisis.

The private hospital did not provide any chemotherapy services before the outbreak, but it has been rapidly equipped to treat the 300 patients a week that would usually use NHS facilities.

The N&N has been designated a 'surge centre', with most of the hospital's operations focussed on tackling the virus.

The transfer of chemotherapy services to Spire Norwich was spearheaded by Linda Page, who was Senior Surgical Matron at the N&N until 2018, and has come out of retirement to oversee the new cancer service.

She said: “When the Covid-19 outbreak began, I knew I had to return to work and lend my skills in the national effort against this disease.

"I know that all the cancer patients who come here in the next few weeks will benefit from the same positive spirit that I have encountered, which will make their stay in hospital that bit easier."

The partnership is possible because of a national agreement between the NHS and private sector, in which the latter made all of its facilities available to the Department for Health.

Hospital bosses have said it is vital that non-coronavirus health issues continue to be treated.

“Our mission is to care for our patients, whether they have Covid-19 or other urgent care needs which are unrelated to the pandemic," said Sam Higginson, Chief Executive of the N&N.

"The support we have received from Spire has been tremendous and we are delighted to be working in partnership to benefit the local community at this difficult time.”

Spire are also providing cardiological treatment and spinal surgery for NHS patients, and have announced they are planning to start a midwifery clinic.

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