Renowned surgeon to expand services and introduce Arthrosamid clinics
Greater Lancashire Hospital (GLH) has engaged Amit Shah as both orthopaedic surgeon and Head of Clinical Strategy & Development as it targets an ambitious expansion of healthcare services.
Mr Shah will utilise his senior management expertise to attract even more leading consultants and clinicians to work at GLH’s new hospital in Preston’s D’Urton Lane.
The consultant orthopaedic surgeon will also launch a groundbreaking treatment for knee pain called Arthrosamid, an injectable hydrogel which has been proven to help patients with knee osteoarthritis remain active for up to five years following a single injection.
Family-owned Bespoke Healthcare Group, which runs GLH, successfully acquired First Trust Hospital’s building and equipment this autumn and will use the site to decrease waiting times for NHS patients throughout the Lancashire area while increasing its private and healthcare insurance provisions.
Mr Shah said: “Greater Lancashire Hospital is growing rapidly and I’m greatly looking forward to helping shape the next exciting chapter of its evolution. In particular, I’ll be working with the senior management team to ensure high-level clinical appointments.
“We know all the healthcare services in the North West where there are large waiting times or there isn’t the provision to treat people locally, and it’s these areas where we will look to expand in cooperation with the NHS to help patients get treatment sooner rather than later.
“The availability of Arthrosamid injections at the new clinics I’m launching at Greater Lancashire Hospital will be a gamechanger for anyone who’s previously been held back by knee osteoarthritis pain.”
In addition to having more than 28 years’ experience in orthopaedics, Mr Shah has been a consultant orthopaedic surgeon working for large North West NHS hospitals since 2013.
His work covers all adult hip and knee pathologies including sports injuries, dealing with painful degenerative joints, and carrying out several hundred hip and knee replacements every year. He is also a senior lecturer with Edge Hill University in Ormskirk, Lancashire.
GLH can now offer Arthrosamid after signing a contract with global medical supplies manufacturer Contura Orthopaedics to provide the injections.
Gwam Rajiah, Executive Chairman of Greater Lancashire Hospital and the Bespoke Healthcare Group, said: “This is a major step forward for people living with knee osteoarthritis pain here in the North West – and Mr Shah is a fantastic addition to our team.
“This deal to provide Arthrosamid injections demonstrates our ongoing commitment to provide the best chronic pain care for our patients as we expand our services after taking possession of our new hospital premises.
“We remain 100% committed to providing proven, innovative treatments that leverage the skills of our expanding team of consultants and surgeons as well as unleashing the full potential of our new facilities.”
(L-R): Gwam Rajiah, Executive Chairman of Greater Lancashire Hospital and Bespoke Healthcare Group pictured with leading North West-based hip and knee consultant, Mr Amit Shah.