In this edition of our community diagnostic centre news roundup: Our NHS Partnerships Lead Richard Dulcamara shares insights from his visit to the Wood Green CDC in North London, and major milestones in terms of the CDC programme delivery.
A visit to Wood Green CDC with Richard Dulcamara, our NHS Partnerships specialist
Richard Dulcamara, NHS Partnerships Lead for Feedback Medical, visited Wood Green CDC in North London last week and spoke with Senior Operations Manager Michael Adebowale about the centre’s primary focus on reducing wait times from referral to diagnosis for patients.
Operated by Whittington Health, the CDC was recently recognised in the All Parliamentary Party Group for Diagnostics report as an exemplary model of the positive outcomes achievable when healthcare services are integrated into the community, or more specifically, the shopping centre on the high street.
Community diagnostic centres deliver more than seven million checks
CDCs have now delivered over seven million tests, checks and scans across the NHS in England since their inception in July 2021, the government reports.
Figures show that, for every month in 2023, diagnostic activity was the highest on record for that particular month.
The news follows Jeremy Hunt’s Spring Budget that outlined the government’s £4.2bn Public Sector Productivity Plan – £3.4bn of which will be ringfenced for the NHS to invest in digital technologies.
Through this funding, the Department of Health and Social Care will bring in 100 new AI-powered MRI scanners, which will help deliver faster diagnostics to tens of thousands of patients every year.
160 CDCS have launched says health secretary
Victoria Atkins, the health secretary, announced that 160 new CDC sites have been launched, meeting the government’s target early of achieving the milestone by March 2025.
Professor Sir Mike Richards, who authored the 2020 independent review of NHS diagnostic services, said ‘great progress’ has been made through the CDC programme and the new facilities are providing much needed capacity.
In other CDC news:
BBC: New diagnostic centre to be built in Plymouth city centre
Building Better Healthcare: St Margaret’s Hospital applies for CDC in Epping Forest
Derbyshire Times: New CDC for Chesterfield’s Walton Hospital wins planning support