News

Leading orthopaedic centre of excellence The Horder Centre has been named as among the UK’s best providers in an influential hospital guide.

The Dr Foster Hospital Guide is an independent and highly respected annual report that details improvements and trends across the healthcare sector.

For the first time, the Dr Foster Hospital Guide includes independent healthcare providers, such as The Horder Centre in Crowborough, in its assessment of treatment for hip and knee replacements. Previously it only assessed NHS hospitals.

The report highlights that while the independent sector accounts for just 3% of all elective NHS surgery; it performed 15% of the 147,000 NHS elective hip and knee replacements in the last financial year.

More than 96% of people treated at The Horder Centre are NHS patients, referred through Patient Choice, which allows people to ask their GP to send them to a specific hospital.

Diane Thomas, Chief Executive of The Horder Centre, said: “The Dr Foster Hospital Guide is respected nationally as a highly credible source of crucial information about the healthcare sector.  So it is tremendously rewarding to be named in the guide as one of the country’s best providers.

“The Horder Centre demonstrates how independent specialist providers can work with the NHS to provide superb outcomes through reduced waiting times, low emergency re-admissions and less need for procedures to be repeated.

“As a centre of excellence, we pride ourselves on providing the very best orthopaedic care in a clean, safe and friendly environment, and we are thrilled this commitment has been recognised by the Dr Foster team.”

Dr Foster looked across three key indicators of quality for both elective hip and knee replacements including the number of patients who spent long periods in hospital, the number of emergency readmissions within 28 days of the operation and the proportion of repeated procedures within a year.

The Horder Centre, as a good performing provider, have fewer long stay patients, lower emergency readmissions and lower revision rates.

All patients requiring an elective orthopaedic procedure or needing a referral to a Consultant Rheumatologist or Consultant Pain Specialist have the right to choose The Horder Centre, paid for by the NHS.

In the financial year up to July 2011, The Horder Centre welcomed over 25,000 patient visits.

To read the Dr Foster Hospital Guide 2011, click here.

In November we welcomed local dignitaries and school pupils to the Centre to bury a time capsule to help celebrate our multi-million pound redevelopment scheme.

A replacement hip joint was among the many items sealed in the capsule and buried by members of the local community including Crowborough Mayor Kay Moss and pupils from nearby St John’s School.

Details of the Centre’s on-going redevelopment scheme, a history of the Centre and staff photos were placed in the capsule to give a snapshot of life at the hospital while school pupils put in their own artwork depicting how St John’s School might look in half a century.

The capsule will be opened in 50 years time, creating a fascinating insight into how things have changed at the Centre and throughout Crowborough.

Diane Thomas, Chief Executive of the Horder Centre, said: “Since being established almost 60 years ago, the Centre has evolved a great deal, and now future generations will be able to see how another half century has altered the Centre.

“Our redevelopment scheme has strengthened the Centre’s position as a UK centre of excellence for orthopaedic care, and we are immensely proud of what we have achieved.

“It was a pleasure to bring our local community together for the time capsule burial, and to share our passion for the care we provide.”

The Mayor, who placed a USB memory stick in the capsule containing the town council’s vision for Crowborough, said: “My first ever Mayoral duty was to attend an open day here at the Horder Centre two and a half years ago and things have changed a great deal since then, so it will be very interesting to see what has changed in 50 years.”

As part of the redevelopment, a state of the art physiotherapy gym has been created at the Centre, officially opened by former Olympic gold medallist Sally Gunnell OBE last month, together with a stunning new reception, coffee shop and outpatients consulting room suite.

Externally, a new therapeutic garden has been created to give patients another place to recuperate, and extra car parking spaces have been added.

The scheme, funded partly through charity events organised by the Centre, will also deliver a new admissions suite, a new day care centre and a new pre-admission assessment clinic.

The Priest-in-Charge of St John’s Church in Crowborough, who was unable to attend the time capsule burial, sent a special message, read by congregation member Miriam Penn. He said: “I would like to pay tribute to the work of the Horder Centre, and to what it does for our local community.”

(Caption for photo) Snapshot in time: Luke Garner (front right) from The Horder Centre is joined by Crowborough Mayor Kay Moss and pupils from St John’s School to bury a time capsule.  Luciana Pettitt (8) (crct) from St John’s School puts in some artwork while the Mayor  places a replacement hip joint in the capsule, watched by representatives from St John’s Church, fellow pupils and other Horder Centre Staff.

Track superstar helps usher in new era for The Horder Centre

Sally Gunnell opens our new physiotherapy gym with Senior Physiotherapist Sam Blanchard, left, and Business Development Manager Karen Bruton, right.

Former Olympic gold medallist Sally Gunnell officially opened our new state-of-the-art physiotherapy gym to mark a landmark moment in the Centre’s redevelopment programme.

Speaking to more than 70 guests at the opening ceremony in September, Sally praised the facility as “remarkable”, saying physiotherapy had helped keep her athletics career on track.

The two-storey gym boasts the latest exercise and cardiovascular equipment and will enable the Centre to offer physiotherapy and integrated rehabilitation programmes to a far wider target audience.

As well as treating patients recovering from orthopaedic procedures such as joint replacements, the gym has opened up new markets for The Horder Centre, including sports clubs seeking acute injury assessment and return-to-sport rehabilitation.

After unveiling a plaque to declare the gym open, Sally, one of 12 Olympic Ambassadors for the forthcoming 2012 Olympics, told guests how she was forced to travel abroad for injury treatment at the height of her running career.

She said: “It is wonderful to be here today to share The Horder Centre’s vision and to see this remarkable facility.

“It really is a superb gym and offers wide access to leading physiotherapy techniques and sports injury treatments at The Horder Centre, all under one roof.

“Certainly within sport, injury prevention is essential and I am jealous that I did not have access to a facility like this at the height of my career.”

The Horder Centre hopes to work with numerous local sports clubs by offering pre-season injury screening packages across a diverse range of disciplines from football and rugby to basketball and athletics.

The gym is part of a multi-million pound redevelopment at The Horder Centre, praised by Prime Minister David Cameron as a UK centre of excellence for orthopaedic care with superb outcomes. The redevelopment has also created a new reception and coffee shop, more en-suite patient rooms and new outpatient consulting rooms.

In addition, the Centre is developing a number of outreach clinics offering physiotherapy and initial consultant appointments, giving people access to care closer to home. Centres have already been opened in Eastbourne and Hastings.

Diane Thomas, Chief Executive of The Horder Centre, said the Centre had already achieved great things in its two-year redevelopment scheme. She said: “By the end of the two years we will have a resounding therapeutic centre in the heart of the Ashdown Forest. We are building on our heritage and we are moving forward to create something very special.”

For volunteers Martha Fraser and Marion Burbridge, volunteering at The Horder Centre has bought them new experiences and friendships. Both ladies have been volunteering at The Horder Centre for almost a year now. Martha, 76, and Marion, 75, knew of The Horder Centre after they had a hip and knee replacement.

Martha and Marion in main reception

They became aware of the need for volunteers in an appeal for help in Patient News and eventually met on a volunteer’s induction day at the Centre. The ladies struck up an immediate friendship after discovering that they had grown up in the same neighbourhood. Like all volunteers at The Horder Centre, Martha and Marion are indispensable. An average day for them includes helping patients between wards, taking round the sweet trolley and keeping the plants healthy.

Martha, who retired to live in Nutley, East Sussex, likes to make the most of her time and feels volunteering is an important part of her life. “When you begin to age, at times, you can feel useless, but volunteering makes me feel I can still take part in helping the community,” she said. Martha is very active in her spare time. Alongside coaching a boy’s football team, she also takes weekly Pilates lessons that are held at the Centre by the hospital’s physiotherapy team.

Marion, who is a widow, would have loved to have gone back to work however, due to her age it was difficult. Since being introduced to The Horder Centre she feels it has given her the chance to socialise and helps to keep her busy. She said: “I’m a hairdresser, so I just love to talk to everyone. Volunteering gives me the chance to do this, alongside comforting and helping the patients. It’s been the best decision I’ve made in a long time.” “As I myself have had a knee replacement before, I am able to reassure patients and make them feel better about the operation.”

The two ladies have become good friends since volunteering. Outside the Centre Martha, something of an IT enthusiast, gives computer lessons to Marion to help her get to grips with her new laptop.

Diane Thomas, Chief Executive of The Horder Centre, said: “At The Horder Centre we value all of our volunteers and are grateful for the time and effort they donate to us. Martha and Marion are an excellent example of people who take time out of their days to make a difference to patients and staff at the Centre. We always welcome new volunteers at the Centre as they are essential to delivering the standard of care we pride ourselves on.”

If you would like more information about volunteering at The Horder Centre please contact Angela Reynolds on 01892 665577 or at angela.reynolds@horder.co.uk

The Horder Centre has been praised by Prime Minister David Cameron as a shining example of how the private sector can support the NHS.

Speaking to an audience of NHS staff on Tuesday, Mr Cameron said private and voluntary sector providers like The Horder Centre help raise healthcare standards and value for money by creating more choice and competition.

In his speech, he praised providers like “the independent Horder Centre in East Sussex, which delivers orthopaedic care and has high patient satisfaction, low rates of readmission, and excellent outcomes.”

Mr Cameron made clear the UK was not about to switch to the American model of private medical care but said the NHS benefits from a “mixed economy of providers”.

But he added: “So new providers, more choice and competition raises standards and delivers values for money.”

Diane Thomas, Chief Executive of The Horder Centre, said: “It is enormously rewarding to be recognised by the Prime Minister as a leading example of a private sector hospital that is working hand in hand with the NHS to give patients access to very high quality care and excellent outcomes.

“Through continual improvement and investment we have earned the respect of healthcare commissioners such as GPs who are happy to refer their patients to us knowing they will receive the best possible treatment.

“As a charity, The Horder Centre exists to make a real impact on people’s lives, helping patients suffering with often debilitating orthopaedic conditions rediscover their independence.

“As such, we believe it is sensible and practical to provide NHS services at a time when the health service is under such pressure.”

The Horder Centre, a charitable organisation set up more than 50 years ago, provides outcomes for hip and knee replacements well above the national average and has a patient readmission rate of just 0.75%. Waiting times are also well below the current 18 week target.

In a recent patient survey, 99% of patients said they rated areas such as cleanliness and quality of care as excellent, very good or good. The centre is also now able to accept patients from the age of 16.

Currently the Centre is undergoing a multi-million pound development programme to ensure it is able to deliver 21st Century care to even more patients through enhanced outpatient facilities, a new physiotherapy gym and extra en-suite bedrooms for inpatients.

For more information contact Matt Adams at Cobb PR on 01323 416999.

                                                                     Ninety people took part in our Charity Quiz Night in March and helped raise a superb £1,100 in aid of The Horder Centre. Teams were made up of ex-patients, staff and companies who support and supply to the Centre.

There was a pause in proceedings to hold a raffle which this year raised £211. Thanks go to our volunteers who sold tickets on the night.

Alice and her pharmacy team, ‘Green Ink Gang’ were declared the winning team with an impressive score of 64 out of 90. Congratulations also go to our ‘Ravishing Receptionists’ who tied 3rd on the evening.

A special thanks to the following suppliers who sponsored the event: Medical Imaging Partnership, 3663, Office Angels,Mid-Sussex Timber and Mustard Payroll.

Thank you to everyone who attended and supported the event for their efforts and to our volunteers who helped on the night. We hope that everyone who attended or helped enjoyed the evening.

PRESS RELEASE

Leading orthopaedic hospital The Horder Centre has become the first independent healthcare provider in the South East to be awarded a new contract to treat NHS patients.

The hospital, a centre of excellence for the treatment of arthritis and other musculoskeletal conditions, has been awarded Any Qualified Provider status.

The contract is the first of its kind to be signed with the South East Coast Strategic Health Authority (SHA) and allows The Horder Centre to treat patients referred for treatment by their GP under the NHS.

Currently, NHS patients who choose to visit The Horder Centre for treatment account for more than 90% of procedures carried out at the hospital in Crowborough, East Sussex.

Any Qualified Provider status is a Government scheme designed to open up the healthcare system to independent providers who meet stringent conditions on outcomes and quality of care. The Horder Centre, a registered charity, has been an NHS provider for several years.

Diane Thomas, Chief Executive of The Horder Centre, said: “We are thrilled to become the first independent healthcare provider in the South East Coast SHA region to be awarded this important status.

“The status highlights our commitment to providing the highest possible standard of care and to give everyone access to high quality treatment.

“We can now continue to offer our services to everyone, from anywhere in the UK, who chooses to visit us under the NHS and continue to give independence back to those who suffer the often debilitating effects of arthritis.”

New figures show The Horder Centre has a zero rate of infection for MRSA and C Diff, and that 97% of hip replacement patients, and 92% of knee replacement patients, show improvement after treatment, demonstrating above average results and placing The Horder Centre as one of the top providers in the country.

The Centre has embarked on a multi-million pound redevelopment programme to enhance its facilities even further by adding a new physiotherapy gym, more patient en suite rooms and a new reception and outpatients area.

Ends

George Booth, one of our ex-patients and a volunteer, climbed the 900 steps of the BT Tower on Friday 4th February in aid of The Horder Centre.

George completed the steps in a fantastic time of 12 minutes and 3 seconds – a time that George couldn’t even imagine he would achieve.

George has had 2 hip replacements at The Horder Centre so to achieve this goal has really shown how far he has come in his recovery.

Your help is vital in raising essential funds for our Full Life Appeal which George is kindly supporting.  If you’d like to support us and congratulate George on his achievement through a donation please donate directly at www.justgiving.com/georgebooth or send a cheque to The Horder Centre using the sponsorship form attached here.

Thank you so much for your support and of George for taking on this challenge.

KEEN St Leonards runner Roy Morris is back to his best following a full knee replacement operation.

Roy, 68, awarded an MBE in 1989 for his services to the magistracy, was left unable to walk properly due to arthritis in his left knee.

Back to his best - Roy back in training at his local gym

The father-of-one, who ran almost 4,000 miles in a single year for charity, had to use a stick to move around and was unable to complete his regular gym training and swimming sessions or go on holiday.

When his arthritis worsened, he asked his GP to refer him to The Horder Centre following a glowing recommendation by his brother-in-law.

Under the Government’s Choose and Book system, patients can choose to be treated free at The Horder Centre under the NHS.

Roy, from St Leonards, East Sussex, who worked as principal legal advisor at Hastings and Rother Magistrates Court, said: “I was finding getting around increasingly difficult and was barely able to walk. It was tough.

My brother-in-law was treated at The Horder Centre and said the attention he received was brilliant, so I was keen to go there too.”

Roy’s background as a keen runner meant being unable to use his knee had a major impact on his life.

 In 1988, he was elected President of the Association of Magisterial Officers (AMO) and in his Jubilee Year he and his wife Anne decided to raise money for the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association by running 3,800 miles, a staggering distance which included completing the London Marathon.

Now, thanks to his operation, carried out by Consultant Adrian Butler-Manuel, Roy is once again highly active, joining his wife at the local gym to train and swim.

Roy said: “My operation at The Horder Centre has made a huge difference. I am back at the gym working out and swimming and my wife and I are thinking about going on holiday again, which we couldn’t do when my knee was so bad.

My time at The Horder Centre was brilliant. I cannot fault any little bit of it. I found everyone there very friendly and caring. They really did make me feel special.

“I have two grandchildren and I am back chasing after them again. It’s great.”

Diane Thomas, Chief Executive of The Horder Centre, said: “Roy’s story is a fantastic example of how The Horder Centre strives to make a difference to people’s lives. As a charity, giving people like Roy easy access to the highest quality of care is at the heart of what we aim for.”