First Community Diagnostic Centre opens in Buckinghamshire
It is one of 40 centres being opened across the country
The first Community Diagnostic Centre in Buckinghamshire has opened.
It is based at Amersham Hospital and will allow Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust to offer more appointments for tests such as X-rays, ultrasound and blood tests.
This will reportedly reduce waiting times and make it easier for people to access these services closer to home.
It is also planned that the centre will offer tests and examinations for patients referred for investigation of heart and respiratory problems.
This is one of 40 Community Diagnostic Centres (CDC) that are being opened across England.
It is also one of three CDCs across the wider region encompassing West Berkshire and Oxfordshire.
Andrew McLaren, Chief Medical Officer at the Trust, said:
"We’re essentially providing an easier and quicker way to access a range of quality diagnostic services in one place.
"Earlier, faster and more accurate diagnoses of health conditions will benefit our patients and help us improve the health of our local community."
Tina Kenny, Director for Clinical Partnerships at Buckinghamshire's Healthcare NHS Trust, told Greatest Hits Radio:
"Local people don't have to go so far for these tests, which are so important early on when a patient turns up with symptoms and we need to try and work out what it is that is happening with them.
"We are working with Oxfordshire and West Berkshire where there are also centres, and we are learning together.
"This is a five year programme and so we're just at the start of it.
"We're very much looking forward to seeing how we can innovate and make things even better over the next few years for our population."