A LANDMARK agreement between Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust and Spire Healthcare has enabled a raft of workers at the company’s Clare Park hospital in Crondall to transfer over and support the NHS in the fight against Covid-19.

Spire Clare Park has assigned 46 theatre and ward staff to Frimley Park Hospital, which represents 92 per cent of the clinical team.

Spire has been supporting the hospital across a range of services such as looking after Covid-19 patients, assisting with emergency theatres and assisting with urgent or time-critical operations.

Under the agreement, Spire Clare Park will be supporting Frimley Park until the end of June to help alleviate the pressure of Covid-19 and the gradual re-introduction of other NHS services.

In addition to providing people, Spire Clare Park has made available much-needed equipment to the hospital, including anaesthetic machines, recovery monitors, syringe pumps, drip infusion pumps and single-use ITU equipment.

The partnership between Spire Healthcare and Frimley Health has been made possible under a national agreement which Spire, alongside the whole of the independent sector, has signed to make its staff, equipment and facilities available to the NHS at cost only to help alleviate the pressure caused by the pandemic.

Margaret Da Costa, hospital director at Spire Healthcare, said: “We have worked closely with our local trust for many years, but never more so than during this pandemic.

“When the lockdown was announced, discussions began as to how we could support and it soon became clear that offering the skills and expertise of our people would be the most beneficial.

“We were thrilled at how quickly the arrangement was put in operation. It demonstrates the sheer commitment from the NHS and independent sector to collaborate and navigate this unprecedented public health crisis together.”

Matt Allen, theatre manager at Spire Healthcare, working at Frimley Park Hospital, said: “From the first moment we arrived at Frimley Park, we have been made to feel welcome and supported. We all feel part of the same team – all keen to do our bit in the national response against Covid-19.

“I would like to thank everyone at Frimley Park Hospital for making the journey so far a positive one, even in the face of adversity and uncertainty.”

Dr Tim Ho, medical director for Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust said: “Our main aim is to deliver great care to our community, and we’re grateful for the team at Spire who have helped us to uphold that aim.

“By providing extra staff and equipment, we have been able to continue to care for all patients requiring urgent treatment or diagnosis, whether related to the coronavirus or another medical condition.

“It’s great to know we can lean on our partners in the independent sector during difficult times like this and we’d like to thank Spire for its support.”