New centres will provide quicker diagnoses to patients – a step forward in the Government’s plan to roll out 160 centres by 2025
Seven new community diagnostic centres (CDCs) will open across England to help bust the COVID backlogs, diagnose patients more quickly, and meet future demands on the NHS, Health and Social Care Secretary, Steve Barclay, has revealed.
The one-stop shops offer a range of diagnostic checks, scans, and tests closer to home.
Following a GP referral, patients can get their symptoms checked and receive a potentially-life-saving diagnosis for a range of conditions such as cancer, heart, and lung disease more quickly.
The new facilities will also relieve pressure on NHS staff ahead of a potentially-challenging winter.
So far, 92 have already opened in a variety of settings from football stadiums to shopping centres – carrying out over 1.7 million tests.
Investing in diagnostics
This forms part of the Government’s ambition to roll out 160 community diagnostic centres across the country by 2025 to deliver nine million tests, checks, and scans a year, with the programme backed by £2.3billion of diagnostics investment.
These seven ‘one-stop shops’ are the next step in our elective recovery plan and a welcome addition to the 92 existing community diagnostic centres, which have already delivered more than 1.7 million tests and checks in just over a year
CDCs reduce the number of hospital visits and reduce waiting times for patients by diverting people away from hospitals – so hospitals can focus on treating urgent conditions while the diagnostic centres focus on tackling the backlog for tests and checks.
And they are more convenient for patients and more efficient, with patients less likely to have their tests cancelled.
The new CDCs will be rolled out in:
Barclay said: “Since taking on the role of Health and Social Care Secretary, I have been focused on clearing the COVID backlog and waiting times.
“Community diagnostic centres are a vital part of our plan to transform the way we deliver tests, scans, and X-rays and ultimately reduce waiting times for patients.
A countrywide effort
“Along with speeding up diagnosis times, they will also help tackle health disparities – ensuring that people get treated as quickly as possible no matter where they live, with new centres opening from Essex to Manchester.”
NHS national director of elective recovery, Sir James Mackey, added: “These seven ‘one-stop shops’ are the next step in our elective recovery plan and a welcome addition to the 92 existing community diagnostic centres, which have already delivered more than 1.7 million tests and checks in just over a year.
“Our elective recovery plan set out how the NHS will deliver nine million more tests and checks a year by 2025 and the work of these diagnostic centres, some in convenient spots including shopping centres, are excellent examples of the innovative work being done across the health service to ensure patients get the tests and checks they need as quickly as possible.”
More than 1.7 million tests, checks and scans have already been delivered in the following regions across the country:
The Finchley Memorial Hospital CDC opened in north London in August 2021 and now offers patients two MRI scanners along with two obstetric ultrasound machines.
Staff carry out a range of scans, blood tests, and other cardiology and respiratory services – with more than 50,000 tests so far delivered.
Community diagnostic centres are a vital part of our plan to transform the way we deliver tests, scans, and X-rays and ultimately reduce waiting times for patients
And, in Dorset, a CDC was constructed on the top floor of Beales department store in Poole to tackle waiting lists in the region, with the first patients walking through its doors in December.
The space was once used to sell furniture, and now boasts an eye testing centre, a breast screening unit, and 16 clinical rooms that can be adapted for different needs.
As part of the selection process for the new centre, the government worked closely with the NHS and invited bids from various regions.
Analysis was carried out to determine where they would be most beneficial in reducing waiting lists and tackling health inequalities.
The news comes after Barclay announced that over 50 new surgical hubs will be opening to offer hundreds of thousands more patients quicker access to procedures.
Backed by £1.5 billion in government funding, they will provide at least 100 more operating theatres and over 1,000 beds – delivering almost two million extra routine operations over the next three years.
