NHS patients in Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire are to be offered improved access to scans and investigations following a new agreement designed to boost diagnostic capacity, reduce wait lists and provide residents with care “closer to home.”
Two community diagnostic centres (CDCs) will be established in Bristol and Weston-super-Mare, with the aim of providing locals with access to a variety of tests during a single visit, reducing travel and the volume of patient appointments.
Services offered will include MRI and CT scans, blood and lung tests, endoscopy and ultrasounds which will help increase the diagnosis and treatment of a range of conditions from joint concerns to cancer.
NHS England has appointed InHealth as the preferred bidder for the project on behalf of the integrated care boards, with the two working towards “an integrated workforce model” to make the best use of their combined expertise.
It is hoped that by providing closer community access to diagnostics, the area’s main hospitals will have more time to focus on complex cases and urgent/emergency care, reducing the number of appointments being postponed at times of high demand.
North Bristol NHS Trust chief medical officer, Tim Whittlestone, said: “Providing additional diagnostic scans and tests will be incredibly positive for the experience of our patients and we are pleased to be a part of rolling out these centres in local communities.”
In February, Barking Community Hospital (BCH) announced plans for a new community diagnostic centre following a majority vote by Barking and Dagenham’s Planning Committee. The site was chosen to meet growing demand in the area, with the hope of reducing health inequalities, reducing travel times and providing an improved patient experience.
In related news, Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire (BNSSG) ICS released their joint forward strategy, outlining the ICS’s vision for the coming years.
We also covered BNSSG ICB’s board meeting in February this year, wherein they discussed their ‘Healthier Together’ framework and objectives for the ICS moving forward.
