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SPIRE BRISTOL HOSPITAL LAUNCHES ONE –STOP FERTILITY SERVICE

The South West‘s largest private hospital is pioneering a “one-stop” outpatient service for couples having fertility problems.

Patients can undergo a series of tests at Spire Bristol Hospital‘s fertility and reproductive medicine clinic which establish the cause of the problem, and receive expert advice and guidance on treatment options, all within a single visit.

Both male and female partners can attend the sessions, which are run by consultant gynaecologist Valentine Akande.

Prior to the consultation the male partner undergoes a sperm test and the female partner has a blood test to investigate any hormonal imbalances and to check for infections such as rubella and chlamydia.

The consultation then comprises a one-and-a-half hour fertility consultation which includes an ultrasound scan of the uterus and ovaries, a test to check whether the Fallopian tubes are blocked or open, and discussion of the blood and sperm test results.
     
“This one-stop service is the first of its kind in the South West and has the advantage of reducing the stress of repeated fertility tests and delays in treatment for couples,” says Mr Akande.
 
“A one-stop appointment in not suitable for everyone, however. Couples where a known problem exists, such as blocked tubes or a low sperm count, or where extensive tests have already been done, should have a standard appointment.”

ENDS         8th September 2010

Photo Caption: Valentine Akande, consultant gynaecologist at Spire Bristol Hospital


Notes to the editor:

•    Spire Healthcare is the second largest private hospital provider in the UK with 37 hospitals (total of 1,935 beds) and over 6,000 UK consultants practicing from our premises.

•    Spire Healthcare treated almost 1.3 million patients in 2009, of which 87% rated the overall quality of care as ‘very good‘ or ‘excellent‘

•    Spire Healthcare hospitals invest heavily in systems and processes for infection prevention and control, resulting in exceptionally low rates of MRSA bacteraemia and C difficile infection. Our rates are lower than the rates seen across the NHS as a whole and out-perform the private sector average.

•    Sustained clinical performance improvements and standards led Spire to win the Best Healthcare Outcomes award at the Independent Healthcare Awards in 2008.  In 2009 Spire Healthcare won the Nursing Practice award at the Independent Healthcare Awards for developing and introducing a programme to enable hospitals to achieve hygiene excellence, as well as introducing surveillance following hip and knee replacement surgery

•    For more information, please visit: www.spirehealthcare.com

For more information or to arrange photographs, please contact  Neil Fraser neil@sturgessvandamme.co.uk