News Archive

Change of ownership for Sancta Maria Hospital

After some 20 years ownership, the Board of Trustees of the Hospital Management Trust (HMT) has decided to sell Swansea’s Sancta Maria Hospital in order to secure an early redevelopment of the hospital.

As a charity, HMT is constrained in the ways in which it can raise money and because of the Welsh Assembly’s negative policy towards independent hospitals, the Trust has been unable to secure funding to implement its planning permission to build a new hospital on the prestigious SA1 Waterfront. The financial backing necessary to advance this project is more likely to come from a larger, corporate hospital operator, and HMT is fully supportive of the need to develop a new purpose-built hospital in the area.

HMT confirms that there is no question of the hospital closing, nor of job losses amongst the team of staff in place, whose employment will transfer to the new owner once the process has been concluded, which will take some months yet. In the unlikely event that the sale does not proceed as planned, HMT will continue to own and operate the hospital as it does currently.

Expressions of interest will be invited from interested parties in October, with the successful bidder being selected by January 2008. The transfer is expected to be complete by April 2008.

Meantime it is a case of business as usual at Sancta Maria, for patients, consultants, insurers and staff alike who will see no change in the high quality services provided to them.

Further announcements will be made in due course. The team at Sancta Maria looks forward to continuing to serve the population of Swansea and South West Wales for many years to come.

John Randle, Executive Director, Hospital Management Trust

Cosmetic Surgery top of the Welsh Women’s Wish List

The cosmetic surgery market in Wales is undergoing rapid growth as more and more women seek out surgical options to improve their appearance.

Sancta Maria Hospital in Swansea is a long established provider of cosmetic surgery and is well equipped to meet such needs.

National figures published recently by The British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS) indicate major increases in the take up of cosmetic surgery options with a 31 percent rise over the last year alone across the UK.

Procedures such as Liposuction have actually seen an increase of 90 percent on last year with more than with 50% more face, eye and brow lifts being carried out than ever before.

Anecdotal evidence from Wales indicates that the country is reflecting the national trend.

Swansea Consultant Plastic Surgeon and BAPRAS member Hamish Laing undertakes his cosmetic surgery practice at Sancta Maria and believes that more and more people are considering cosmetic surgery as a lifestyle choice.

He said, “More and more people are considering cosmetic surgery and are coming to see us for a consultation. It is not right for everyone, but for some people can make a big difference to how they feel about themselves and how others think about them. Having this sort of plastic surgery is a big decision and needs careful consideration after at least one consultation with a fully trained surgeon and without any pressure to go ahead with surgery.

Liposuction saw the greatest increase last year, with 30% more people booking in for this procedure.

Mr Laing added, “Sancta Maria has some of the latest liposuction equipment which can really help improve body contour, particularly for stubborn areas which haven’t improved with dieting and exercise. With more people losing weight and wanting to get trim again, liposuction is becoming more popular in our practice, either on its own or as part of other procedures.”

Sancta Maria Hospital in Swansea which is an independent charitable hospital echoes these sentiments. The proportion of cosmetic surgery work being carried out by consultants at the hospital has grown considerably in recent years and is becoming ever-more popular.

Michael Davies, Hospital Director said, “Sancta Maria is fortunate to work with the highly skilled Consultant Plastic Surgeons based at the Welsh Centre for Burns and Plastic Surgery in Morriston Hospital. This level of expertise helps us to offer maintain high standards by offering quality service to patients who need the reassurance that the surgeon treating them is a qualified expert in his field.”

“Despite the popularity of cosmetic procedures, having such surgery is a major decision. While price and accessibility remain considerations, quality of care is increasingly the key factor in the decision making process.

Obesity – a genetic issue?

Recent medical discovery has proven the link between obesity and genetics but a dietitian at Sancta Maria Hospital in Swansea believes this is just reiterating what many of us have always suspected.

Having recently relocated from London, Anna Parton, who has been a dietitian for the past twenty years, believes that a genetic link to obesity is quite simply common sense and the fact still remains that it is entirely possible to beat genetics through good diet and exercise habits.

Mrs Parton, who trained at The Royal London hospital in London and now holds a clinic at the independent hospital, Sancta Maria says, “We have all had experience of people who can eat and exercise the same as ourselves but still don’t tend to gain weight at the same rate. Now this anecdotal evidence is backed up by scientific evidence of the FTO or ‘FAT’ gene.”

The scientists who made the discovery are from Peninsula Medical Centre in Exeter and their research suggests that the presence of this gene can result in a 30 to 70 percent increase in the likelihood of becoming obese. However, according to Anna, simply having the gene does not mean you will automatically become obese as it is influenced by a number of factors.

Anna explains, “As a dietitian, I see many patients with obesity. Broadly speaking my advice to them is the same and will remain the same, despite the medical discovery of the FTO gene. Eating healthily and sensibly and increasing overall activity are the cornerstones of beating obesity, regardless of genetic make up.

“Many people who struggle with their weight are eager to seize upon a simple solution, whether it be the fad diet or a medical excuse for their condition, but the point is there isn’t a simple solution. In order to beat obesity, people need to consider changing their eating and exercise habits for life, which can be very difficult and requires hard work and commitment.

“Eating a sensible diet and being more active are the fundamental tools in beating obesity, whatever the underlying condition. Whether my patients are immobile due to ill health or disability, have thyroid dysfunction or indeed if they have the obesity gene, there are many lifestyle choices they can make which can dramatically improve their health.

“Undeniably, this is a hard choice to make but my experience has proved that once my patients’ dedication and commitment begins to show in terms of the loss of a dress size or improved general health, they often have the incentive to persevere to reach their goals.

“My fear is that this newly discovered gene will provide many obese people with an excuse which might have long term repercussions to their health. I hope that most people take this information and use it sensibly.

Whether you have the genetic make up or not there is much which can be done to reduce the incidence of obesity in Wales. With the right help and support people will be able to take control of the issue and make the appropriate lifestyle changes in order to live healthier, happier lives.

24 April 2007

Growing Trend in Helath Checks

More and more people are booking in for full health MOT’s reflecting a national trend in health screening.

Sancta Maria Hospital has seen a 100 percent rise in the numbers of enquiries from individuals and companies relating to the health assessment programmes available.

Michael Davies, Hospital Director said, “We have seen a number of enquiries from companies looking to provide subsidised or part paid health assessments for their employees.

“Many staff are pleased to be offered a health assessment by their employer, and welcome the reassurance or recommendations it can bring.

According to the latest figures from the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), staff absence due to sickness costs an estimated £13 billion per year, however the implications are often more wide ranging than simple bottom line costs.

Claire Cooper, Director at Blue Apple HR, which provides companies

across the UK with tailor-made human resources programmes said, "Being an increasingly health conscious nation, and with the ever increasing competition to attract talent into an organisation, offering staff health screening is an added benefit for a new employee.

“Ill health also has repercussions in terms of motivation, retention and the well being of the whole work force. Company supported health screening programmes can go some way to addressing these issues in that many people will be reassured by the thoroughness of a health MOT and will be given key pointers on how to lead healthier lifestyles."

As well as company schemes a growing number of individuals are booking in for health assessments at Sancta Maria Hospital.

Michael Davies said, “We have seen a number of private individuals approaching us who feel they have reached a certain age and would like to have a full health assessment.

“We are becoming a health conscious nation and now more than ever people are seeking peace of mind and early detection of health problems.”

Health assessments at Sancta Maria cost £390, with some additional costs if supplementary investigations are recommended by the screening doctor.