Charter Medical and Vhi announce partnership in Mullingar

Charter Medical Group and Vhi have announced a new partnership aimed at providing Vhi members with guaranteed access to endoscopy services at Charter Medical Private Hospital in Mullingar.

The Charter Medical Endoscopy Reimbursement and Guaranteed Access Pilot will provide a dedicated endoscopy pathway for Vhi members, covering the process from referral and triage through to the procedure and follow-up care.

Under the arrangement, Charter Medical Group will provide dedicated capacity for Vhi patients, with agreed standards covering access, clinical outcomes and patient experience.

The partners say the initiative is designed to reduce waiting times and improve access to endoscopy services, which are currently in high demand.

Performance will be monitored through monthly reporting, including access and turnaround times, clinical outcomes and patient experience.

Aaron Keogh, Managing Director of Vhi Insurance DAC, said the partnership reflected Vhi's commitment to ensuring members could access care when they needed it.

“By guaranteeing capacity and setting clear standards for turnaround times and outcomes, we are putting members at the centre of a model that rewards quality, efficiency and access,” he said.

Paula Gray, CEO of Charter Medical Private Hospital, said the agreement would allow the hospital to standardise the endoscopy care pathway, commit dedicated capacity and measure access, clinical outcomes and patient experience.

“It is a strong example of partnership working to reduce waiting times and improve access to services that are in critical demand,” she said.

The agreement was formally marked at an event attended by representatives of both organisations.

Vhi was represented by Mr Keogh and Dr Lynda Keaveney, Chief Clinical Officer, Vhi Health and Wellbeing, while Charter Medical Group was represented by chairman Tom Byrne, chief executive Brian Fitzgerald and Paula Gray