Consultants' update: April 2025
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A message from Andrew McGrath, Chief Financial Officer
Welcome to April’s consultant newsletter. I’m pleased to be able to provide an update on the financial performance of 米兰体育 and the wider Bupa Group.
Before I begin, I would like to provide a brief introduction to myself for those of you I haven’t yet become acquainted with. I joined the hospital in May 2024 as Chief Financial Officer but have been with Bupa since 2007. My time with the company has included roles in the UK Insurance Finance team, as Financial Controller for Bupa’s UK business, and as Finance Director within one of our aged care businesses.
It is my pleasure to share with you the Group’s financial achievements over the past year. In summary, Bupa started 2025 in exactly the same style as it ended 2024 – with solid, sustainable performance. To touch on our 2024 results, as a Global Group we reported revenue of ?16.9bn, up 16% on 2023. Before tax, our underlying profit for the Group was ?914m, a massive increase of 59% compared to 2023.
米兰体育 had a particularly positive year, generating ?183m of revenue and treating over 85,000 unique patients. We opened Theatre Six in June, our dedicated Day Surgery Unit in July, and grew our services through the support of our valuable consultant network and customer groups. We also welcomed London Medical into our family, the acquisition of which has helped expand our specialist diagnostic services and reinforced our commitment to helping people live healthier, happier, longer lives.
2025 will see our revenue surpass ?200m and our profit grow significantly. In growing our profit, we will unlock further investment in both our physical and digital footprint – the recent purchase of the da Vinci SP being testament to this. Looking ahead, we’re excited to share our plans for 2025 and beyond, which will ultimately help us deliver on our objective to become the world’s most customer-centric healthcare company.
Finally, I wanted to take the opportunity to communicate our 2025 charges for the use of consulting rooms and medical secretary support. From 1 May, we will charge in 15-minute increments for consulting rooms at ?7.50 plus VAT. The decision to charge in 15-minute increments follows feedback received and should ensure that charges align more accurately with actual usage. We will also increase the charge rates for medical secretary support by 6%, in line with the April pay review and the increase in National Insurance contributions.
I would like to thank you for your support and look forward to meeting more of you in the year ahead.
Andrew McGrath, Chief Financial Officer
An update on Radiology
Words by Sheena Murchie, Divisional General Manager (Diagnostic Imaging)
Radiology is a service which has seen phenomenal growth throughout my two years at 米兰体育; once a quiet offering, we have seen a 20% year-on-year growth on volumes. This has largely been achieved by optimising access to services and through continual work to improve our protocols via use of new imaging techniques.
We are now less than five months away from the unveiling of our new diagnostic suite in Lexham Gardens. With that will come:
- two brand-new X-ray rooms
- a multi-use fluoroscopy room, which will double up as a procedural suite
- more ultrasound rooms, enabling every speciality to run a list simultaneously throughout the day
- new DEXA machine with advanced software capabilities, to assess body composition and support our Dietetics team
- a dedicated floor to support one-stop working for women’s health services, including mammography, vacuum-assisted breast biopsies, and consultations within a serene atmosphere
The opening of Lexham Gardens will provide a new entrance into the hospital for those undergoing diagnostics and therapies, as well as refreshed staff facilities, a patient-centric layout, and transformed waiting areas. This move will enable the next phase of works to commence in the summer, including installation of our long-awaited 3T MRI scanner as well as an open MRI scanner to address needs for our claustrophobic and paediatric patients.
As the demand for diagnostics continues to rise, Basinghall Clinic and London Medical have been crucial in responding to support increased patient numbers. This includes the Basinghall MRI service extending their hours on weekdays for scanning, and London Medical undertaking more diabetes-related imaging.
In late March, we installed a new mammography unit within London Medical, which enabled a new breast care service to launch shortly after. This brings us up to three world-class sites offering screening and symptomatic one-stop breast pathway services across West, East, and Central London.
Additionally, 米兰体育 has supported seven national Bupa clinics in offering screening mammography to go live over the last six months and dramatically reduced reporting turnaround times for these clinics from 10 working days to two working days. To see breast services grow with the support of our consultants has been remarkable and I extend my thanks to all involved.
Pelvic health physiotherapy
We are delighted to have recently welcomed physiotherapist Liliana Djurovic to the Therapies department at 米兰体育.
With over a decade of experience in pelvic health physiotherapy, Liliana takes a holistic, evidence-based approach to treatment. She views pelvic health as an integral part of overall wellbeing, tailoring her care to each individual’s specific needs.
Liliana conducts multiple clinics at 米兰体育 each month and will now also be participating in the Endometriosis and Gynaecology MDTs. Dedicated to continuous professional development and the latest clinical standards, she specialises in treating a wide range of pelvic health conditions, including:
- pelvic pain
- pregnancy and postpartum rehabilitation
- pre- and post-operative urogynecological rehabilitation
- urinary and faecal incontinence
- bladder and bowel dysfunction
- pelvic organ prolapse
- endometriosis
- sexual dysfunction
Looking ahead to 2025, we are excited to expand the pelvic health physiotherapy service further. The first step in this expansion will be the introduction of weekly pre-operative educational presentations, delivered by Liliana via Teams, to support patients preparing for surgery. This is in addition to the newly designed patient information leaflets that are provided to pelvic surgical cases, and post-operative inpatient physiotherapy input already being provided to the more complex surgical cases.
Liliana’s expertise and patient-centred approach ensure high-quality care for individuals facing pelvic health challenges, and we look forward to further enhancing our services in the coming year.
If you would like to refer patients into this service, please download our Therapies referral form or email [email protected] for more information.
Renal denervation for hypertension
Led by Dr Sayan Sen, Consultant Cardiologist, cardiac specialist group One Heart Clinic will now be providing renal denervation at 米兰体育.?
Renal denervation is an advanced interventional therapy recommended for patients who have treatment-resistant hypertension or who cannot tolerate medication due to side effects. It works by reducing the activity of nerves surrounding the renal arteries that contribute to high blood pressure.? ?
As well as effectively lowering blood pressure long term and reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease, renal denervation patients can also benefit from a reduced reliance on medication. Additionally, they may find that their existing medications perform more effectively following the procedure.?
Patient referrals should be directed to Dr Sayan Sen at [email protected]. ?
Changes to the medical ward
Having listened to feedback from our consultant body and nursing teams, we’re excited to announce improvements to our medical ward set-up.?
From May 5, our current ward will be divided into two dedicated units:?
- Cardiology, Cardiac, and Thoracic Surgery?
- Acute and General Medicine?
Alongside this, we are expanding our team by hiring additional nurses and clinical team leaders, reducing the reliance on contingent staff. These changes will enhance patient flow, efficiency, education, and individualised care.?
Thank you for your ongoing support. If you have any questions, please reach out to Jordan Roy, Modern Matron – Medicine, Endoscopy, and Dialysis at [email protected].??
Consultant retirements
We would like to announce the retirements of Mr Munther Haddad, Consultant Paediatric Surgeon and Dr Margaret Phelan, Consultant Radiologist, both of whom worked at the hospital for over 25 years.
On behalf of everyone at 米兰体育, thank you for your dedication to providing world-class care and we wish you both a long and happy retirement.
Remembering Ms Norma Timoney
We were deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Ms Norma Timoney, Consultant Plastic Surgeon, on Sunday 2 March 2025.
Ms Timoney most recently held the position of Consultant Cleft and Plastic Surgeon at Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospital, London. She also led the paediatric plastic surgery department at Evelina London Children's Hospital from 2010 to 2022.
Outside of her NHS role, Ms Timoney had been actively involved in volunteer surgical work. She served as a trustee of Facing the World, a charity providing life-changing surgical care to children with facial disfigurements in Vietnam, and was Chair of the Board of Trustees from 2018 to 2020. She visited Vietnam on numerous occasions as a volunteer surgeon and had been involved in overseas work since 2007.
On behalf of everyone at 米兰体育, we would like to express our condolences to Ms Timoney’s family, friends, and colleagues.
Mr Sheng Qiu, Consultant Colorectal and General Surgeon
- Clinical interests: Lower GI surgery, colorectal cancer with liver metastases, robotic surgery
- NHS base: The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust
Dr Qiu has specialist interests in advanced and complex colorectal cancer. He also has experience in treating a wide range of benign colorectal and general surgical conditions.
Dr Michael Michail, Consultant Interventional Cardiologist
- Clinical interests: Shortness of breath, heart attacks, hypertension, heart failure, and angioplasty
- NHS base: University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust
Dr Michail sees patients with a wide variety of conditions, including chest pain, shortness of breath, palpitations, dizziness, blackouts, hypertension and cholesterol (lipid) disorders. He also has a specialist interest in the management of coronary artery disease and aortic valve narrowing.
Dr Subhachandra Navaratne, Consultant Radiologist
- Clinical interests: Interventional radiology, oncological radiology, and abdominal diagnostic radiology
- NHS base: King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
At King's College Hospital, Dr Navaratne is the Lead Radiologist for Urology Diagnostic Services and Lead for Radiology Infection Control. His expertise includes abdominal diagnostic and interventional radiology, including general and oncological radiology.
Consultant compliments
We are delighted to share the following reviews, which were collected via our patient experience platform, Medallia.
Ms Mahwash Babar, Consultant Oncoplastic Breast Surgeon
“Mahwash Babar was super professional and has lots of empathy. She made me feel at ease from the start, and took the time to explain everything to me, sent me to do some tests, and made me go back afterwards to reassure me and explain the details. Also, the radiology team was top notch, including Tran who was super friendly... Really comforting and efficient to be able to see all in one day.”
Dr James Shelley, Consultant Dermatologist
“I recently had a series of appointments with Dr James Shelley, including a consultation, biopsy, follow-up checkup, and treatment. Throughout the entire process, he was thorough, efficient, and highly professional, ensuring that I felt informed and comfortable at every stage. Dr Shelley took the time to explain everything clearly, addressing any concerns I had with genuine care and expertise. His attention to detail and commitment to patient well-being were evident, making what could have been a stressful experience feel much more manageable. I truly appreciate his compassionate approach and the excellent standard of care I received. I would highly recommend Dr Shelley to anyone seeking a knowledgeable and trustworthy dermatologist.”
Mrs Sara Badvie, Consultant General and Colorectal Surgeon
“Sara Badvie was professional and detailed in her knowledge and treatment advice.”
Mr David Selvadurai, Consultant ENT Surgeon
“Mr Selvadurai has been seeing me for my Meniere's condition since last year. I've received a diagnosis for a start, which hasn't really happened for over 10 years until now. I've been explained the actions to take that can potentially help reduce the episodes, and also two courses of treatment.”
Dr John Martin, Consultant Gastroenterologist
“Dr John Martin was excellent – extremely helpful, patient, and explained things clearly. Also, there was no wait at all for my appointment time.”
Dr Omar Malik, Consultant Neurologist
"Dr Omar Malik was excellent and provides an outstanding service. He is very quick to identify the problem and progress immediate tests to find the possible solution. It is very much appreciated.”
Mr Giles Davies, Consultant Oncoplastic Breast Surgeon
"Mr Davies was incredibly professional, polite and caring whilst being very efficient. He answered all of my questions clearly and was very reassuring. All staff members were very helpful and there was very little waiting around. An all together excellent service!"
London Medical
What's new at our outpatient and diabetes specialist centre located in Marylebone.
Mammography and one-stop breast clinic
We are pleased to announce that our new mammography suite at London Medical opened on Monday 14 April. The suite will be used to deliver mammograms as part of Bupa Health Clinics health assessments, as well as part of our new one-stop breast clinic.?
The breast clinic, which will initially run three times per week, will be delivered by Mr Giles Davies, Ms Jennifer Hu, and Miss Hira Rizki, with onsite radiology support. The clinic also benefits from a dedicated patient coordinator to support a seamless experience.?
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Lung function and respiratory diagnostics service
The lung function and respiratory diagnostics service at London Medical is led by Lucy Haynes, Senior Respiratory Physiologist, who specialises in comprehensive assessments for a range of respiratory conditions. ?
Lucy's experience includes?working as?Respiratory Physiologist at Churchill Hospital and carrying out research testing for the Oxford Respiratory Trials Unit. She graduated with a first in Neuroscience from the University of Leeds.?
Our service offers a variety of in-clinic tests using Vyaire’s Vyntus? BODY, a plethysmograph designed for pulmonary function testing. Available tests include:?
- spirometry?
- respiratory muscle strength?
- gas transfer (TLCO/DLCO)?
- static lung volume and airway resistance?
- exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO)?
For further information, or to make a referral, please email Lucy at l[email protected] or download London Medical's Lung Centre referral form.?
FibroScan
A new FibroScan service is now ready to welcome patients at London Medical in Marylebone.?
FibroScan is a fast, non-invasive method of assessing scarring and fat levels in the liver. The scan will be carried out by an experienced nurse, with patient results reviewed and reported by Professor Raj Mookerjee, Consultant Hepatologist.????
This service will be beneficial for patients with conditions including hepatitis B and C, non-alcoholic liver disease, alcohol-related liver disease, diabetes, metabolic syndromes, and more.
Patients can be referred using London Medical's radiology referral form.
Mr Giles Davies, Consultant Oncoplastic Breast Surgeon
- Clinical interests: Breast cancer surgery and breast reconstruction
- Private practice only
Mr Davies has specialist expertise in all areas of breast cancer surgery, from assessment and breast cancer surgery through to complex breast reconstruction.
Ms Jennifer Hu, Consultant Oncoplastic Breast Surgeon
- Clinical interests: Breast cancer in families, oncoplastic breast conservation surgery, and reconstructive surgery
- NHS base: Barts Health NHS Trust
Ms Hu cares for patients with benign breast problems, early, and advanced breast cancer, and has developed an expertise in family history of breast cancer and mainstreaming breast cancer genetics.
Miss Hirah Rizki, Consultant Oncoplastic Breast Surgeon
- Clinical interests: Oncoplastic breast surgery and reconstruction
- NHS base: Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust
Miss Rizki's expertise lies in oncoplastic breast surgery and reconstruction, seamlessly integrating principles from both oncology and plastic surgery. This comprehensive approach ensures holistic care, emphasising both cancer treatment and aesthetic outcomes.
Basinghall Clinic
The latest updates from our outpatient diagnostic centre in the heart of the City.
Ms Romana Kuchai, Consultant ENT Surgeon
- Clinical interests: General ENT, paediatric ENT, rhinology, laryngology, and allergies
- NHS base: Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust
Ms Kuchai has a specific interest in rhinology, including endoscopic sinus surgery and reconstructive rhinoplasty surgery. She is also experienced in general paediatric ENT surgery, with particular interest in the field of paediatric allergy.
Mr Raghbir Khakha, Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon
- Clinical interests: Knee joint preservation surgery, ACL and PCL surgery, knee replacement surgery, and knee arthroscopy
- NHS base: Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust
Mr Khakha has an exclusive interest in disorders of the knee, with particular expertise in knee joint preservation surgery including cartilage repair, ligament reconstruction, and osteotomy surgery.
Dr Reza Abdullah, Consultant in Respiratory Medicine
- Clinical interests: General respiratory care, pleural disease, pulmonary nodules, and lung cancer diagnostics
- NHS base: University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Dr Abdullah has experience in the diagnosis and management of common respiratory conditions, as well as a specialist interest in pleural disease, lung nodules, lung cancer, and diagnostic procedures.
We hope you enjoyed this month's newsletter. For queries, please contact [email protected].