LARGEST PRIVATE EMPLOYER IN STOCKPORT BOOSTS WITH INVESTMENT

The largest private business in Stockport – BMI The Alexandra Hospital in Cheadle – is enhancing the patient offering by investing £1.2million in a new radiology unit. This cash injection is on top of the £8million already invested in the hospital over the last two years.

The bulk of the investment – £1million – goes towards the introduction of a new nuclear medicine service, a specialty that involves administering a small amount of a radioactive medication into a patient to deliver a more accurate, focussed diagnosis and treatment.

As part of the nuclear medicine investment, BMI The Alexandra Hospital is the first private hospital in the North of England to have a SPECT/CT scanner – a state-of-the-art CT scanner which reduces a patient’s exposure to radiation.

The scanner can be used to diagnose a wide range of conditions including heart disease, various cancers, Parkinson’s disease and muscular skeletal issues. The scanner will also benefit young sports people, as the low dosage reduces unnecessary exposure to radiation.

The remaining £200k will be invested in digital mammography, which will allow for faster examination of patients and will work hand-in-hand with the new SPECT/CT scanner to deliver women with a more accurate diagnosis. For breast cancer, the SPECT/CT scanner lets an oncologist know how many lymph nodes are affected before surgery, delivering a more focussed treatment and outcome.

 Philip Oehley, Executive Director of BMI  The Alexandra Hospital, comments: “This  investment signifies BMI The Alexandra  Hospital’s continued commitment to  providing patients with state of the  artservices, and the best treatment and  care possible. The advanced technology  also allows staff to train in the latest  medical innovations. It’s not just an  investment in equipment, we are investing  in our staff, many of whom are local  residents.”

 Over 60% of BMI The Alexandra Hospital’s  869 staff are from Stockport, whilst a third of workers are from Greater Manchester. Providing opportunities for all, nearly 200 staff are in administration, clerical, housekeeping and maintenance roles.

Prior to this latest investment, BMI The Alexandra Hospital had undergone an £8 million refurbishment and service upgrade in the past two years. This included the launch of a new oncology unit – opened by the late Coronation Street actress Betty Driver, a paediatric unit, a minor injuries unit and state-of-the art operating theatres.

Last year, BMI The Alexandra Hospital became the first private hospital in the UK to install a revolutionary mobile patient monitoring system, which is continuously connected to patients who have surgery during their stay at hospital.

The hospital has also significantly invested in staff and is looking at rolling-out a recruitment drive for theatre staff over the next year. Philip has been at helm of BMI The Alexandra Hospital since summer 2011 and is responsible for the hospital’s 600+ consultants and 869 staff. Originally from South Africa, Philip has over 16 years’ management experience. He has also worked on the frontline, training as an Emergency Care Practitioner in South Africa, continuing to volunteer for the role when he moved into management.