Care and improvement of human life is the principal mission of every hospital, which could be achieved through the delivery of high-quality, cost-effective healthcare to the community it serves.
World Health Organization’s expert committee on organization of medical care define the hospital as an “integral part of a social and medical organization, the function of which is to provide the population complete health care, both curative and preventive, and whose out-patient services reach out to the family in its home environment; the hospital is also a center for the training of health workers and bio-social research” (Gilder and Routley, 800). In this perspective, the illness profile of patients, services provided, and the specialty teams available to provide complete health care through various departments are narrated in the ensuing paragraphs.
Cardiology Department
Major conditions of coronary heart disease (CHD), such as myocardial infarction (commonly known as a heart attack), angina, and acute coronary syndrome are generally reported to the cardiology department. Records suggest that the predominant cases examined in the cardiology department are atherosclerosis, ischemic cardiovascular disease, left ventricular systolic dysfunction, acute myocardial infarction, acute coronary syndrome, and heart failure.
The cardiology department aims to treat patients as individuals and ensure all patients experience an integrated and seamless service appropriate to his or her needs. It is achieved through a dedicated multi-disciplinary team of 14 cardiologists who are supported by a team of specialist doctors and nurses. An expert and dedicated team of cardiologists/cardiovascular surgeons aided with high-end imaging technology including cardiac CT are well geared to handle heart attack cases round the clock. Stress echo, myocardial perfusion scanning, electrocardiogram, and arrhythmia stress testing facilities are available at this centre. The department also provides pacemaker/defibrillator test and extends technical cover in coronary angiography
Dermatology
It is the branch dealing with diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the skin, hair, nails, and adjacent mucous membranes. Most common skin diseases seen in dermatology department are associated with bacterial, fungal, and viral infections like acne, viral warts, eczema, and benign tumours. (Julian, 518-520). The dermatologists of this hospital are not only conversant in treating medical problems but have skills, experience and equipment in attending cosmetic dermatology as well. In addition, treatment of melanomas using latest technology of photo dynamic treatment is also available. The team of nine dermatology consultants assisted by clinical, technical, and nursing staff are in position to attend patient reporting with skin problems. (Our Services and Specialities: Dermatology at LBH). Endocrinology:
Endocrinology chiefly is an outpatient specialty and the number of visits per year to endocrinology department exceeded 20,000 patients. Major problems reported are decompensated diabetes, thyrotoxic problems and Graves disease. Graves disease, an auto immune disorder, is “found to represent 60-90% of all causes of thyrotoxicosis in different regions of the world.” (Yeung, Habra and Chiu). The endocrinology service offers specialist care for endocrine disorders, particularly for diabetes through diabetes nurses, dieticians, and specialist podiatrists, and the facilities include dynamic testing, and insulin pumps.
Endocrine specialists attend to thyroid, parathyroid, and adrenal and pancreas disorders, surgery is also adopted, if necessary. Major surgical interventions are used in patients reporting with thyroid cancer, adrenal tumours, endocrine tumours of the pancreas, and multiple endocrine neoplasia type I and type II.
Gastroenterology department
Gastroenterology is the diagnosis and treatment of disorders of the digestive system, including the stomach, bowels, liver, gall bladder and the related organs. Major diseases reported to this department are, common bowel symptoms, alcohol related illness such as “decompensated alcoholic liver disease,” inflammatory bowl disease, and chronic diarrhoea. (Hislop and Heading, 57-60).
Common bowel symptoms are rectal bleeding, abdominal pain, changes in bowel habit, and anal pain. Laboratory investigations used in gastroenterology department includes upper gastro-intestinal endoscopy, flexible sigmoidoscopy, and colonoscopy. Major services, such as Doppler guided haemorrhoidal artery litigation (DGHL), Pouch surgery for ulcerative colitis, colorectal cancer surgery, pelvic floor surgery, and laparoscopic resections are provided in this department. There are four expert colorectal surgeons and five gastroenterologists with support staff, who provides a comprehensive investigation and management services to meet the expectations of the patients.
The services include gastroscopy, colonoscopy, capsule enteroscopy, and bowl cancer screening. Gastroenterology department is also engaged in obesity prevention activities in association with other specialties to offer enlightened, sympathetic and practical guidance with the aim of tackling multi-faceted condition of obesity. The clinical team includes nutritionist, lipidologists, gastroenterologists, and hepatologist, and services of cardiologists, gynaecologists, and rheumatologists are also engaged when the patient is found to be in need of such specialists.
By offering the “full range of treatment options from detailed and personalised dietary and life-style guidance to medication, through to endoscopic intervention and/or surgery” obesity control is achieved, which is conforming to National Institute of Clinical Escellence (NICE) recommendations. (Welcome to the London Obesity Practice).
Neurology
Disorders affecting the nervous system are widespread with long term conditions, and account for 20% of medical admissions of which are stroke. Incidences of most common neurological diseases are migraine, epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease, cerebral tumour, and multiple sclerosis.
Services are provided through specialized clinics, such as neuromuscular clinics, neurogenetics clinics, motor nerve clinics, specialist epilepsy and Parkinson disease clinics, specialist neurovascular and neuro-oncology clinics. Neurophysiology department with in patient and out patient EEG and EMG services provides efficient services with the assistance of technician team.
Obstetrics and Gynaecology department
Gestational diabetes, pelvic inflammatory disease, endometriosis, and carcinoma of the vulva, are serious complaints reported in the Obstetrics department. Besides, Gynaecological maladies of menstrual disturbances, urinary incontinence, infertility problems, vaginal bleeding, excessive vomiting in early pregnancy, and ectopic pregnancy, are also attended from this department. The clinic provide full range of diagnostic services including hysteroscopy and colposcopy, and offers specialist advice and management of abnormal cervical smears, ovarian cysts, ovarian screening and endometriosis. (Our Services and Specialities: Dermatology at LBH).
Minimal access surgery that minimizes surgical trauma, pain, and blood loss and shortens hospitalization, introduced recently is used in gynaecological procedures, reconstructive procedures, and radical cystectomy. Another innovative move was introduction of liquid based cytology (LBC) for taking samples in cervical smear screening. There are 12 consultant gynaecologists and 10 consultant obstetricians and each consultant lead a team of specialist doctors, and nurses such as consultant nurse, surgical nurse practitioner, and gynaecological nurse practitioner
Oncology
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, Hodgkin’s disease, carcinoma of the breast, prostate cancer, and cancer of digestive and urinary systems are majority of the cases reported in oncology department. Greatest numbers of deaths are reported from lung, colorectal, breast, and prostate cancers. Installed with state of the art chemotherapy equipment, and run by supportive team of senior cancer nurses and support staff, chemotherapy unit offers comfortable and friendly environment suitable to the needs of oncology patients.
Support services of specialist breast care nurses, palliative care nurses, clinical psychologist, and complementary therapists are added advantage of this department. Photodynamic or ‘blue light systoscopy’ is effectively used to treat patients with suspected bladder cancer or in those undergoing check cystoscopies. “Bowel cancer is the third most common cancer in the UK, and the second leading cause of cancer deaths.” (New East London Screening Centre to Reduce Bowel Cancer Levels).
And hence bowel cancer screening using colonoscopy is adopted in this department to identify gastro-intestinal problems. Newer digital mammography, in which images can be stored and manipulated later on a screen to allow for optimum diagnosis, service helps diagnose symptomatic of breast cancer at early stage. Trials (Pisano et al 2005) establish that digital mammography reduces radiation dose and it is significantly better than film mammography. Scientific evidence suggests that regular mammography screening between ages 40 to 69 was found to reduce“17 to 37 percent advanced tumors. (Our Services and Specialities: Dermatology at LBH). Mammography team comprises radiographers with postgraduate certificate in Mammography practice and consultant radiologist who are internationally renowned specialists in the respective field
Orthopaedics Department
Soft tissue pain, shoulder pain, and spinal complaint associated with musculoskeletal disorders; osteoarthritis of the knee, rheumatological disorders such as osteoarthritis, inflammatory joint disease, and osteoporosis; and fall injury, hip fracture, and ankle sprain. The department is will equipped to conduct orthopaedic surgery, and the list of specialties include back, foot and ankle, hand and wrist, hip, and knee surgery. Latest minimal invasive surgical techniques are used to restore lost function in any part of the musculo-skeletal system to allow the patient to return to their former way of life.
All these departments are supported by well equipped, state of the art instrumentation and computerization pathology department. Pathology department provides a variety of services in biochemistry, haematology and blood transfusion services with the back up of registered biomedical scientists and consultant pathologists. With the concerted efforts of specialists, clinicians, nurses, and technical support staff each department is able to provide high quality, cost effective, and compassionate care for the restoration of normal healthy life to the patients reporting to each department.
Works Cited
Gilder, S. S. B., and Routley, T. C. (Eds). The Functions of the Hospital. The Canadian Medical Association Journal. 77. 1957. Web.
Hislop, W Stuart., and Heading, Robert C. Impact of Alcohol Related Disease and Inpatient Workload of Gastroenterologists in Scotland: Abstract. SMJ: Scottish Medical Journal. 49.2. 2004. Web.
Julian C G. Dermatology in General Practice. British Journal of Dermatology. 141.3. 2009. Web.
New East London Screening Centre to Reduce Bowel Cancer Levels. Barts and the London: NHS Trust. 2007. Web.
Our Services and Specialities: Dermatology at LBH. London Bridge Hospital. 2009. Web.
Welcome to the London Obesity Practice. The London Obesity Practice: London Bridge Hospital. 2009. Web.
Yeung, Sai Ching Jim., Habra, Mouhammed Amir., and Chiu, Alice Cua Chiu. Graves Disease: International. emedicine: From WebMd. 2007. Web.