Extended state-of-the-art facilities at Kidderminster Hospital to help reduce diagnosis and treatment times

Extended state-of-the-art facilities at Kidderminster Hospital and Treatment Centre will help to reduce diagnosis and treatment times for patients from across Worcestershire and beyond.

The recently completed development has added two additional endoscopy rooms to the existing three-room unit – meaning thousands more patients every year will benefit from quicker access to tests and treatment for a wide range of conditions, including many different types of cancer.

The expansion to the Kidderminster endoscopy unit is the latest in a series of improvements to countywide diagnostic services made by Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust which also runs the Alexandra Hospital in Redditch and Worcestershire Royal Hospital in Worcester.

Additional investment of £1.5m enabled the Trust to further expand the Kidderminster endoscopy unit which opened in 2023 and offers modern, patient-friendly facilities as well as an attractive working environment for staff.

Staff at the unit gathered to celebrate the latest expansion of their service this week with a ribbon cutting ceremony in the unit. Cutting the ribbon was Mr Richard Lovegrove, who is a consultant surgeon and the Trust’s Clinical Director for Endoscopy.

Mr Lovegrove said: “The opening of the Kidderminster Community Diagnostic Centre for endoscopy is a huge step forward in improving our diagnostic capacity. The centre has already achieved JAG (Royal College of Physicians Joint Advisory Group on Gastro-Intestinal (Endoscopy) accreditation, ensuring we are providing the highest standards of care possible for our endoscopy patients. The endoscopy department also forms part of the Midlands Endoscopy Academy, providing high-quality endoscopy training to the endoscopists of the future.”

Also joining the celebration was Unit Manager, Debbie Hathaway who has been a member of the endoscopy team at Kidderminster for more than 27 years.

Debbie said: “I have worked in endoscopy since February 1997, and I have seen the unit develop from two procedure rooms to five. I have built a team from 15 to 43 staff, and we are still expanding. It has been so rewarding to see the staff and department grow. Some staff have been with me for over 18 years.

“I have to say we have had a journey through the years, moving the department four times and in May 2022 we moved into CDC1. Everyone’s grit and sheer determination got us here.

“We now have a purposely built unit providing an excellent patient journey and environment along with state-of-the-art equipment. I want to express my huge thanks and appreciation for the hard work of my team and that of the Directorate as well. Without the drive and the leadership from the management team we wouldn’t be here today. Thank you to all who are part of this journey.”

The patient experience in the unit has been further improved by the addition of artwork featuring relaxing rural scenes to help put people at ease before, during and after their procedure. The artwork was funded by Worcestershire Acute Hospitals Charity and is one of many projects the Charity is supporting which improve patient and staff experience in the Trust’s hospitals. More information on the Charity can be found at: https://wahcharity.org/