About The Orwell Private Cardiothoracic Unit

The Orwell Private Cardiothoracic Unit is staffed with dedicated Ramsay Health Care staff and offers a high level of hotel services above the standard NHS provision. This private unit also has access to specialist services within the main hospital and outpatient consulting facilities

Patients can benefit from:

• Rapid access to leading expert consultants
• Specialised medical technology for diagnosis and treatment
• Ramsay Premium Care service, excellent customer care and focus on comfort, privacy and dignity
• Full teaching hospital 24 hr back up including an Intensive Care Unit, to enable complex treatments

As well as accepting direct referrals, the Orwell Private Patient Centre is the hub of a regional network of hospitals within Ramsay Eastern Region, which allows a seamless pathway for patients requiring specialised care.

The Orwell Centre offers outpatient appointments and diagnostic investigations, as well as private ward facilities including 8 private bedrooms, with en-suite bathroom facilities, and rehabilitation aftercare.

The Ramsay Cardiothoracics Service is based at the Orwell Private Patient Centre where we specialise in the treatment of heart and lung conditions, and provides access to some of the UK’s leading experts in this field.  Situated in the NHS regional specialist centre, Orwell provides a multidisciplinary team of supporting staff, with access to the latest facilities for the diagnosis and treatment of heart and lung conditions, within a clean, modern hospital.

All private patients have full access to the specialist theatres, cardiothoracic intensive care units and diagnostic facilities on site. This allows ‘The Best of Both Worlds’ experience of private healthcare in an NHS facility providing the comfort of private care with the clinical backup of a large acute hospital.

Diagnostic procedures

The Orwell Private Cardiothoracic Unit offers a wide range of specialist diagnostic procedures, including:

• Non invasive CT based coronary angiography
• Cardiac MR
• 3-D echo-cardiography
• Transoesophageal echo
• Stress echocardiography including exercise echo
• Echo based optimisation of CRT devices
• Contrast echocardiography

Outpatient Services

Our aim is to provide patients with rapid access to consultant specialist advice, diagnostic tests, results and treatment.

Patients can access Orwell through the seamless Ramsay Cardiothoracics pathway, or direct to the Centre. The hub and spoke network allows patients to have outpatient consultations and initial investigations close to home, with any interventional diagnostics or specialised surgery at the Orwell unit.

Ramsay Cardiothoracic Outpatient consultations are available at:

Oaks Hospital – Colchester

Orwell Essex CTC – Basildon

Pinehill Hospital – Hitchin

Rivers Hospital - Sawbridgeworth

Springfield Hospital – Chelmsford

The specialist network:

• Improves access for patients who can choose to see a cardiologist at the earliest appointment within the region.
• Provides seamless continuity of care through consultants who practice across the sites
• Provides access to the latest specialised medical technology
• Allows world class treatment close to home
• Offers excellent clinical outcomes

Consultations are available at a range of times across the week including evenings.

For appointments, call the Hospital Services Advisors on 01268 242 044 or email orwell.enquiries@ramsayhealth.co.uk