Publish date: 13 September 2024
An innovative new approach that provides health tests in the community is helping speed up diagnostics for patients across Blackpool, Fylde, Wyre and beyond.
Local residents are now able to choose between attending a hospital or a new Community Diagnostics Centre (CDC) for a range of tests including X-rays, MRI scans, CT scans and ultrasound. Certain cardiac and respiratory tests along with blood tests are offered also.
Since the launch of the CDCs, more than 350,000 additional diagnostic tests have been completed in Lancashire and South Cumbria, dramatically improving the speed of diagnosis and treatment.
Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust manages two CDCs in Fleetwood and Whitegate Drive Heath Centre. Collectively they have provided an additional 95,470 tests to patients in the Blackpool area since opening in August 2021 for Whitegate Drive and May 2023 for Fleetwood.
These centres are designed to reduce waiting times and make essential health tests more accessible, transforming the way healthcare is delivered to local communities, ensuring faster, more convenient care for everyone.
Jack Smith, Director of the Lancashire and South Cumbria Diagnostics Collaborative, highlighted the significant impact the centres are having: "Community Diagnostics Centres have increased our capacity as a system to deliver elective diagnostics and are helping to reduce patient waiting times.
“By making diagnostics more accessible, we're not only improving patient outcomes but also relieving pressure on hospital services. The success we've seen so far is a testament to the commitment of our teams and the positive response from patients.
“For example, over the last 12 months, we have seen a fifty percent reduction in the number of patients waiting more than six weeks for an MRI scan.
“The CDCs provide a calmer, more relaxed setting than busy hospital environments. This is particularly important for those who are understandably anxious about the tests they are having.
There are now eight CDCs across Lancashire and South Cumbria, offering a wide range of tests for cardiology, respiratory issues, and endoscopy. These centres act as a convenient one-stop solution for diagnostics, helping to deliver faster, high-quality care outside of traditional hospital settings.
