Nuffield Health celebrates 10 years of The Vale Hospital
Opened on June 1, 2010 with superb facilities, purposedesigned by clinicians with the exacting needs of patients in mind, The Vale Hospital is located in the tranquil setting of Hensol and has gone from strength to strength. It was a partnership of local
IN 2013 Nuffield Health, the UK’s largest healthcare charity, acquired the hospital; helping make Nuffield Health Cardiff and Vale hospitals the success story that it is today. In Wales, the group comprises a day-case hospital in Cardiff Bay along with the in-patient hospital in the Vale of Glamorgan.
Together they account for one of the 31 Nuffield Health hospitals across the UK, all of which are currently supporting the NHS to help relieve the pressure of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Additionally, there are Nuffield Health fitness and wellbeing clubs in Bridgend and Cwmbran, temporarily closed due to lockdown restrictions, but with many online Nuffield Health resources still available, such as the well-being app, which you can find a link to here: www.nuffieldhealth.com/ at-home
Consultant orthopaedic surgeons, David Pemberton and Geoff Graham, the founding doctors in the run up to the opening in 2010, explained.
Mr Pemberton said: “When we had the idea to set up The Vale Hospital, we wanted the clinical facilities to be absolutely fabulous, the staff in all areas to be excellent at delivering high quality patient care and the consultants working at the hospitals to be at the forefront in their field.
“We are proud to have achieved this and more besides. We also have the Cardiff Bay Hospital, as our diagnostic and day-case hub.
“People are astounded by The Vale Hospital’s strong exterior design, utilising Welsh slate, and the internal appearance, as it is quite unique. At The Vale Hospital we have 27 stylish in-patient rooms, six consulting rooms, two custom-built high-tech operating theatres, a diagnostic suite and physiotherapy facilities. It is a joy to work here and our patients say it is pleasantly unlike a traditional hospital setting!”
Mr Graham said: “Here in the Cardiff area, we have more than 95 consultants working with us. With an established strong reputation for quality and excellence in all types of orthopaedics, joint replacement and spinal surgery, as well as physiotherapy, our reputation continues to flourish, recognised by our results in National Joint Registries.
“We also have excellent services in all types of eye surgery, ear, nose and throat medicine, gynaecology, urology and cardiology to name but a few.
“Under non-pandemic conditions, some of the best expert consultants in Europe base their private practice here with us, which is a testament to the quality of our staff and facilities.”
Hospital Director Rob Thomas added: “It is a genuine privilege to be associated with Cardiff and Vale Nuffield Health hospitals. I recall meeting Messrs Graham, Pemberton and colleagues more than 15 years ago to discuss their vision and plans. Regrettably, the organisation I worked for then did not proceed, so it was with genuine delight that in 2019, I was given the opportunity to finally join colleagues in our two outstanding hospitals.
“At this challenging time during the pandemic, we are privileged to offer our support, our staff and first class facilities to our local NHS patients and colleagues. During this period, we are being reimbursed at cost
“As a charity, Nuffield Health does not have shareholders and we can therefore continually reinvest our funds in both staff and maintaining the best and most modern independent hospital facilities in south Wales.
“Our core values have translated very well into the current support we are providing. Nuffield Health prides itself on offering health and wellbeing services, as well as the full range of clinic, diagnostic and surgical facilities and specialists.
“In addition to our strong base of clinicians and fabulous hospitals, our links with sports institutions in Wales are second to none.
“As well as working with the Welsh Rugby Union, Cardiff City Football Club, Cardiff Devils and a plethora of grass roots clubs, we have a surgical partnership with the FIFA Centre of Medical Excellence in Wales.
When things resume, we look forward to celebrating the 10-year milestone properly with our consultants, staff and our patients. We have more than 30 staff who have been with us since the beginning, so it will be a very special time!”