Andrew Mitchell, MP for Sutton Coldfield, has visited Sutton Cottage Hospital to find out how the range of services offered since the refurbishment are making a difference to local people’s health. The refurbishment has allowed for a wider range of health services to be offered to local people from its convenient town centre location. Services currently offered at the hospital include cardiovascular disease screening, leg ulcer clinics, physiotherapy, orthopaedic triage, pain management, HPV immunisations, child health and abdominal aortic aneurysm screening. To make access even easier, some of the services offered at Sutton Cottage Hospital are self-referral which means that patients can go to the service direct rather than through their GP. The physiotherapy service allows patients to self refer in order to access the assessment and treatment they need without delay. The sister service - orthopaedic triage, is led by a team of consultant and clinical specialist physiotherapists and podiatrists who work closely with local orthopaedic surgeons. The service provides specialist assessment, investigation, advice and management of non-urgent orthopaedic (bone and muscle) problems that may need surgery. Andrew Mitchell MP said: “I remain in close contact with those in charge of our health services to ensure we continue to improve health facilities for all my constituents. “There is no doubt that Sutton Cottage Hospital is making a big contribution to health care in our town and I was able to thank all those who work there for all their hard work.” Sophia Christie, Chief Executive of NHS Birmingham East and North, said: “Sutton Cottage Hospital is a great example of an innovative renovation: getting the best out of an existing building which has resulted in local people benefiting from better access to a wider range of services.” More recently, rheumatology, Macmillan nurses and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) nurses have re-located to Sutton Cottage Hospital which enables even closer community links and provision of services for the local population.