Information for Primary Care Trusts
Exeter Medical is happy to provide out-patient NHS services to PCTs in Devon and across the south west.
We have a fully-equipped operating theatre well suited to local anaesthetic procedures such as the removal of both benign and malignant skin lesions and the treatment of minor hand conditions including carpal tunnel decompression and trigger finger release.
Wherever possible, patients will be seen and treated in one patient episode and we will endeavour to facilitate follow-up in primary care, with costs to the PCT often limited to the 2008/9 tariff for treatment by HRG coding only.
Exeter Medical is contracted by Devon Primary Care Trust for the provision of local anaesthetic surgery and laser services to NHS patients on an ‘any willing provider’ basis. This contract can be extended to other PCTs wishing to commission services from Exeter Medical. We undertake to offer a date for treatment to patients referred from primary care within two weeks and for those patients transferred from secondary care we will complete treatment in advance of the breach date if given a minimum two weeks notice. To enable the expedient allocation of appointments to patients, waiting list data should be submitted to us on an excel spread sheet via our NHS practice manager Amanda Bassett - email Amanda.
Once we have received a request from the PCT to offer treatment, we will allocate a responsible consultant or other specialist to undertake treatment depending upon the type of procedure required and its complexity. Exeter Medical will administer the service, send appointments to patients and discharge summaries to General Practitioners on the day of treatment. Histology reports will be forwarded to GPs when they become available.
Patients who decline an appointment in advance of their breach date will be offered an alternative appoitment and the PCT will be notified that patient choice has resulted in treatment beyond the breach date. Patients who decline treatment at Exeter Medical for any other reason will be returned to the PCT.
Exeter Medical will provide all patients with opinion forms and these will be available to the PCT. So far the feedback that we have had from patients has been overwhelmingly positive with glowing testimonials on the ease of parking, overall quality of service and, most importantly, on the standard of care and outcome of treatment.
