A FACILITY designed to move diagnostic services such as scans and ultrasounds out of the hospital environment, has provided over 30,000 appointments since it opened in July last year.
The state of the art Community Diagnostic Centre (CDC) provides MRI, CT scans and Ultrasounds; Echocardiograms and Lung Function Testing, with more services to be introduced in the coming year.
North Cumbria Integrated Care (NCIC), has said the centre, based on Central Way in Workington, represents a significant shift in how diagnostic services are delivered, moving care out of busy hospital environments and into more convenient community locations.
Since opening, the CDC has delivered:
- 12,450 CT scans
- 5,290 Ultrasound scans
- 4,870 MRI scans
From April, the centre aims to deliver up to 4,000 tests per month, with 46,000 tests planned for the next financial year as activity continues to grow.
Nicholas Duncan, CDC Manager said: "We are now performing thousands of tests every month, welcoming patients from across the county. By moving these vital tests away from the Acute hospital and into the community, we can diagnose conditions earlier, reduce waiting times and improve the overall patient experience.
"The next steps are to develop referral pathways and one‑stop clinics, where patients can have multiple tests on one day to save them time and to help us deliver more holistic, patient‑centred care."
Sonia, from Wigton, recently travelled with her husband to the facility after he became unwell late last year.
Sonia said: "We were both extremely worried and eager to have tests carried out as soon as possible. We jumped at the chance to have the appointment at the CDC, even though we hadn’t previously been aware of the facility.
Sonia said: "The building itself was a huge surprise to us, it’s a modern, purpose‑built facility, lovely, fresh and clean. There was loads of free parking, private waiting areas, and the whole experience was really positive. We were in and out and felt a weight had been lifted having the tests over and done with. We would encourage anyone to take up an offer of an appointment there especially if it means being seen sooner."
The CDC continues to expand its offer with Urology and Upper gastrointestinal activity starting soon. The service runs seven days a week 8am-8pm making appointments more accessible for patients at a time that suits them.
Trudie Davies, Interim Chief Executive at NCIC, said: "Good diagnostic testing is at the heart of what we want to deliver at NCIC. These tests are often the key to finding the cause of someone’s symptoms and starting treatment without delay.
"Over the past year we’ve placed real focus on improving diagnostics, and that commitment is reflected in our latest performance data, which shows NCIC is the most improved Trust for the six‑week diagnostic standard."
Ms Davies said: "The CDC has been a huge part of this success. The team there are innovative, ambitious, and determined to make the most of the new facilities, bringing high‑quality care closer to home for many of our communities."
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