Vhi SwiftCare Clinics Announce Major Expansion

• Two new clinics to open in Waterford and Cork
• Expansion to create 60 jobs
• Average of 1100 patients treated each week in existing Clinic

June 17th, 2008 – Vhi Healthcare is to open two new Vhi SwiftCare Clinics in partnership with Centric Health within the coming months in Waterford and Cork, it was announced today. 

Both facilities will open this Autumn with the Waterford Vhi SwiftCare Clinic located in the Whitfield Clinic, Waterford City and the Cork Vhi SwiftCare Clinic located in City Gate in the Mahon area of Cork.  In total the two new facilities will create approximately 60 new jobs by the end of the year. 

The new facilities will follow the same model which has already proved so successful in the Vhi SwiftCare Clinics in Balally, Dublin City University and Swords, providing rapid assessment, treatment and advice for patients with a range of minor injuries and illnesses. 

The three existing Vhi SwiftCare Clinics have treated approximately 100,000 patients to date, with an average of 1100 patients each week currently visiting the facilities.  The top five conditions currently presenting at the Vhi SwiftCare Clinics are soft tissue injuries, fractures, sprains & strains, respiratory problems and minor cuts.  Approximately 40% of patients visiting the Clinics have required x-rays, and the remainder have received consultations in relation to non skeletal presentations including minor burns, cuts requiring a stitch, sporting injuries and other non-urgent conditions. 

Dr Ray Power, Medical Director, Vhi SwiftCare Clinics stated, “Our experience with the existing Vhi SwiftCare Clinics has shown that patients clearly understand the concept and the types of conditions that we treat. They welcome an alternative to visiting an A&E Department when they have a minor injury.  We are pleased to bring this choice to patients in Waterford, Cork and their surrounding areas.”

The two new Vhi SwiftCare Clinics will provide on site diagnostic x-ray services as well as access to blood pathology diagnostic services and Ultrasound facilities.  There will also be a broad range of treatment services including suturing and plaster application as well as some follow up services such as fracture clinics and physiotherapy. 

The aim is to provide an urgent care service and to ensure the patient is referred back to their regular GP as soon as appropriate.  The Clinics also provide a community diagnostic service for local GP’s whereby patients, following referral by their GP, can simply walk-in during Clinic hours, directly obtain their diagnostic test and be advised to attend their GP who will be forwarded the results.
The Vhi SwiftCare Clinics are run as a joint initiative between Vhi Healthcare, Ireland’s largest private health insurer and Centric Health, a primary care medical company founded by Dr. Ray Power and Dr. Maurice Cox.  Vhi SwiftCare Clinic in Waterford will be operated in partnership with the Whitfield Clinic

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

• As with the existing Vhi SwiftCare Clinics, conditions that the Waterford and Cork facilities will treat include: sprains, bumps and bruises, potential breaks, minor burns or cuts that may need a stitch. 

• The Vhi SwiftCare Clinics do not cover serious medical emergencies such as a patient experiencing difficulty breathing, severe chest pain, acute stomach pain, loss of consciousness or severe burns.   Also the Clinics do not treat children under 12 months of age and pregnancy related conditions. 

• Vhi SwiftCare Clinics can be visited by all members of the public, not just Vhi Healthcare members, and are open 365 days a year from 8am to 10pm.

• Patients are not required to make an advance appointment at the Vhi SwiftCare Clinics and ordinarily present themselves or are referred by their GP. 

• Patients visiting Vhi SwiftCare Clinics are charged an initial consultation payment of €105 (or €55 if a patient is referred by their GP).  However cases requiring further treatment or tests will have additional costs such as the following:
  • X-ray – €75 - €95
  • Blood tests - €30 - €50
  • Stitches - €50 - €75
  • Plastering - €55

• Whitfield Clinic already provide a full community radiology service which they will expand to cover Vhi SwiftCare Clinic patients’ requirements.

• Further information about the Vhi SwiftCare Clinics can be accessed at www.vhi.ie/swiftcare.
  
  

Press Team