Is it an emergency?
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in West Suffolk News
The Chief Executive of NHS Suffolk and North East Essex, Ed Garratt, has today welcomed the announcement by the Department of Health and Social Care that plans to build a new Community Diagnostic Centre (CDC) in Newmarket have been approved.
Once up and running, it would be the second facility of its kind within the system area.
Community Diagnostic Centres seek to provide:
- earlier diagnoses for patients through easier, faster, and more direct access to the full range of diagnostic tests needed to understand patients’ symptoms including breathlessness, cancer, ophthalmology
- a reduction in hospital visits which will help to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission
- a reduction in waits by diverting patients away from hospitals, allowing them to treat urgent patients, while the community diagnostic centres focus on tackling the backlog
- a contribution to the NHS’s net zero ambitions by providing multiple tests at one visit, reducing the number of patient journeys and helping to cut carbon emissions and air pollution
Ed Garratt said: “It’s fantastic that the funding for a Community Diagnostic Centre at Newmarket has today been approved.
“This is a great example of how working collaboratively we can deliver improvements for our patients.
“The range of tests that will be available at Newmarket will enable earlier diagnosis and better outcomes for patients, helping to reduce health inequalities in west Suffolk.
“The location for the new CDC is ideal to support people living in Newmarket and surrounding districts to access diagnostic services which we hope will be more convenient to them and save them from having to travel to their nearest hospital for tests.
“We have seen a Community Diagnostic Centre work extremely effectively in Clacton – part of our system area – so are looking forward to bringing such improvements for local people in Newmarket.”
Once launched, the new centre will be staffed by a multi-disciplinary team of staff including nurses and radiographers.
MP for West Suffolk, Matt Hancock said: “I’m absolutely delighted we have won the funding to expand Newmarket Hospital with a new Community Diagnostic Centre – so people can get tests in town.
“The investment will see cutting-edge diagnostics equipment available to those living in and around Newmarket, within two years.
“This important step shows commitment to ensuring both staff and patients have access to world-class facilities, as part of this transformational programme, which will increase capacity for tests and scans and give patients more choice of where they can access their care.
“From new MRI and CT scanners to upgraded X-ray and ultrasound suites, as well as additional capacity for cardiology and lung function testing – it’s incredibly exciting and a much-needed boost for Newmarket.
“Thank you to all campaigners and the NHS team.”
Craig Black, Chief Executive of West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust, said: “We are delighted that the project to deliver a new CDC at Newmarket Community Hospital has been approved, alongside nine others across England.
“This new facility will provide communities in and around Newmarket with quicker and easier access to a wide range of tests that will support earlier diagnosis of patients, help reduce waiting times and tackle health inequalities across the region.
“While this project is still in the early stages, we look forward to engaging with our staff, the public and stakeholders to complete this project by April 2024.”