First patients visit new mobile clinical units

David Cade, Medical Director of Care UK, with Trevor Purt, CEO of Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale Primary Care Trust, welcoming a patient to the new Greater Manchester CATS units.

The first patients have were seen at Rochdale's new state of the art mobile clinical units last week.

The units are part of Greater Manchester CATS (Clinical Assessment and Treatment Services), a new service where people can gain access to a range of minor treatments, from orthopaedic conditions to treatment for ear, nose and throat problems.

The service is being operated by Care UK, an independent sector provider, in partnership with the NHS. Care UK has invested in the clinical unit which were first visited in Rochdale last Tuesday (3 February).

Patients can either be referred to the unit through their GP and, in all cases, they will be seen by a Consultant, normally within a 14 day period at the CATS mobile clinical unit. Greater Manchester CATS will also offer CT and MRI scanning facilities.

Trevor Purt, Chief Executive of NHS Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale PCT, said: “We believe this new service will play a major role in helping to cut waiting lists and waiting times for treatment. Anyone needing NHS treatment has the right to access the very best levels of care as quickly as possible. By introducing the service across several areas of Manchester, we hope to tackle some of the health inequalities people in Greater Manchester face.”