South Swindon MP Sir Robert Buckland and North Swindon MP Justin Tomlinson have welcomed the news that Swindon will benefit from a new Community Diagnostic Centre (CDC).
West Swindon CDC will be based at West Swindon Health Centre, Link Avenue, Swindon, SN5 7DL and increase diagnostic capacity and reduce waiting times. Once operational, it will deliver up to 18,675 checks, tests and scans a year, tailored to meet the needs of patients.
This CDC will increase diagnostic capacity and reduce waiting times, with state-of-the art equipment to deliver CT, MRI, respiratory, echocardiography, cardiology, sleep studies and pathology tests and scans. Activity will begin to be delivered through mobile facilities from December 2023 with CT and MRI (contrast and non-contrast) scans, with the remaining facilities being open by September 2024.
Sir Robert Buckland MP and Justin Tomlinson MP said:
“We are both delighted that Swindon is set to benefit from a new Community Diagnostic Centre, which will increase diagnostic capacity and reduce waiting times.
“The new Community Diagnostic Centre will also be situated in a convenient location with good bus routes and parking nearby.
“Along with the £26 million awarded to Great Western Hospital by the Conservative Government to expand urgent and emergency care, this will help to improve care for the people of Swindon.”
Health and Social Care Secretary Steve Barclay said:
“Patients deserve the highest quality care, and community diagnostic centres have been instrumental in speeding up the diagnosis of illnesses like cancer and heart disease to ensure patients are treated more quickly.
“I’m delighted we will open 160 CDCs a year early, allowing greater access to high tech scans and diagnostics in communities across the England.
“This has been made possible by using all capacity available to us and drawing on the independent sector – helping us to cut waiting lists, one of the Government’s top five priorities.”
Based in a variety of settings including shopping centres, university campuses and football stadiums, 127 of the community healthcare hubs are already open – including 40 brought forward earlier than planned. They offer patients a wide range of diagnostic tests closer to home and greater choice on where and how they are treated, reducing the need for hospital visits and helping them to receive potentially life-saving care sooner.
The programme constitutes the largest central cash investment in MRI and CT scanning capacity in the history of the NHS and has already delivered more than five million additional tests, checks and scans across the country. The new centres will provide capacity for nine million more by 2025 as part of the NHS and Government’s plan to recover services following the pandemic.
