News

One of the UK’s state-of-the-art mobile surgical units belonging to Vanguard Healthcare Solutions Ltd visits Stormont on Wednesday 16 May to help inform MLAS and health committee members about the mobile healthcare solutions available to healthcare providers in Northern Ireland.

Vanguard Healthcare – which designs and operates the world’s largest fleet of mobile operating rooms and temporary day surgery facilities – alongside its Newtownards-based partner Primary Care Northern Ireland (PCNI), will be inviting MLA’s and health committee members to see at first hand one of its surgical units.  The operating theatre will be located outside the parliament buildings.  Staff from Vanguard and PCNI will be on hand to discuss how this innovative solution can help health authorities in the country to provide interim facilities during real estate refurbishment or to boost capacity when needed.

The Directors of PCNI are all locally based primary care professionals, who have partnered with Vanguard to harness the potential of deploying flexible, mobile surgical facilities throughout Northern Ireland.  “This is particularly important at a time when reform and modernisation is a key priority on the health service agenda in the Province,” explains Jim Symington, a director of PCNI.

Vanguard’s fleet of mobile operating rooms and temporary day surgery facilities includes Mobile Theatres (including laminar-flow versions), Mobile Endoscopy suites, Mobile Wards, Mobile Clinics and Mobile Day Surgery units.

Belfast-born Ian Gillespie, Vanguard’s Chief Executive, said: “We’re delighted to be able to provide the opportunity for the Health Minister and the Assembly Health Committee members to view one of our mobile surgical units and talk to them about how mobile and versatile solutions can help to deliver healthcare closer to patients’ homes, which is particularly valuable to those living in rural locations, whilst retaining the quality and consistency of treatment in permanent facilities.

As the UK’s leading enabler of mobile surgery and endoscopy services, both to the NHS and to private healthcare organisations, we have the knowledge, equipment and expertise to help support the Province’s healthcare providers to continue delivering excellent standards of care and treatment.

“For patients using our mobile services, the experience is no different to that of a permanent operating theatre.  For hospitals, the units enable capacity and standards to be maintained whilst permanent facilities are being refurbished or extra space is required to meet growing demand for operations,” concluded Ian, “without the need to stretch resources or resort to more expensive temporary solutions.”

Jim Symington adds “this has created the opportunity to explore potential efficiencies in respect to meeting waiting list and performance targets”.

With a tract record of over a decade in the UK health sector, together with a diverse and highly qualified base of staff – many of whom are former NHS clinicians and executives – Vanguard Healthcare has established a significant portfolio of experience supporting NHS and private hospitals in many different circumstances.

Below: PCNI Director Jim Symington with Simon Hamilton MLA

Below: Vanguard Chief Executive Ian Gillespie with Jim Wells MLA