Day surgery procedures being transferred from QA Hospital to St Mary's

About 150 urology patients have been moved to have their procedures at the Milton site.

And in recent months about 50 endoscopies a month have been transferred from QA, in Cosham, to St Mary’s.

The reasons for the transfer is that patients can be seen and treated in a shorter period of time.

St Mary’s Hospital director Penny Daniels said: ‘NHS patients in the Portsmouth area have been coming to St Mary’s since last year and we currently see more than 94,500 cases a year for procedures.

‘These vary from bunion removal to cataracts through our normal referral channels.

‘The surplus capacity in our endoscopy suite has been used by Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust, which runs QA, for some time now so when colleagues at the hospital asked if we could assist with some of their urology cases we were more than happy to help out.

‘It means patients may be seen more quickly.’

Portsmouth North MP Penny Mordaunt welcomed the move and said it is important that patients are treated well and quickly.

‘It is good to see the different parts of the NHS system working together to deliver good and quick care,’ she said.

‘There could be many reasons for the high demand at the QA, but whether those factors could be avoided or not, what is important is that NHS patients get the treatment they need when they need it.’

Ms Mordaunt added that if anyone had concerns about where they are being offered treatment, she would encourage them to get in touch with her.

A spokeswoman for Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust said: ‘The quality of patient care is the highest priority of Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust and all patients have a full assessment for suitability before any referrals go ahead.

‘QA Hospital works with St Mary’s to ensure that patients who require minor urologic treatment are seen in a timely manner.’

St Mary’s offers day surgery where patients can be treated for a range of orthopaedic care, cataract operations, removal of hernias and endoscopy procedures.