CHELMSLEY Wood is set to get a new community diagnostic centre (CDC) as part of government plans to cutting NHS waiting lists.
The medical one-stop shop is said to be based in a commercial retail site in the north of the borough and will offer MRI, CT and X-ray scans, along with cardiology and respiratory diagnostics.
Following a referral from a GP or consultant, patients will be able to get their symptoms checked much closer to home and receive a diagnosis for a range of conditions such as cancer and heart or lung disease, rather than travelling to hospital.
The centre, which the government say will deliver 116,000 tests, checks and scans a year, is set to open this winter.
Solihull is one of six centres announced this week others will be located in Scunthorpe in North Lincolnshire and Hereford – with the government investing £2.3 billion to deliver up to 160 across England by 2025.
The government also says the CDCs will offer patients a wider range of diagnostic tests closer to home, reducing the need for hospital visits and getting them the care they need sooner.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said: “I have pledged to cut waiting lists and these new community diagnostic centres will do exactly that.
“By offering checks, tests and scans closer to home, we can speed up the diagnosis of illnesses like cancer and heart disease and ensure patients get their treatment quickly.
“These centres revolutionise the way the NHS delivers care and crucially, they are saving lives.”
So far, 106 CDCs are open across England, including three temporary sites, in a variety of settings including shopping centres and university campuses, and the CDC programme has delivered over 3.8 million additional tests, checks and scans since July 2021.
And an additional 32 other facilities are due to open before the end of the year.
Health and Social Care Secretary Steve Barclay said: “We know early diagnosis and treatment leads to better outcomes for patients, which is why these centres are so vital.
“Based in the heart of communities, they are making it easier for people to access life-saving checks and cutting out unnecessary hospital visits.”
The government has also outlined further action to cut waiting lists and offer patients quicker access to healthcare in its primary care recovery plan.
This includes getting rid of the 8am rush for GP appointments, enable patients to get prescriptions and medication directly from a pharmacy without a GP appointment and improve patient access to their own medical records through the NHS App.
