Peterborough diagnostic centre could deliver '20,000 appointments a year'
The North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust is behind the plans
Last updated 5th Oct 2024
At least 20,000 appointments could be booked at a community diagnostic centre in Peterborough if plans go ahead, according to the health trust that would run it.
The centre, which would be based on Wellington Street, would provide treatments including CT and MRI scanning as well as respiratory and physiological checks.
Other treatments and services include phlebotomy and a direct link to the pathology services run at Peterborough City Hospital.
The North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust (NWAFT), which put the plans forward, hope the project will be approved by Peterborough City Council by next spring.
'20,000 appointments a year as a minimum'
Christopher Howard's the deputy director of strategic estates development at NWAFT.
"We will deliver a number of physiological science services such as respiratory and spirometry checks, all tests we consider can be turned around in a matter of minutes," he said.
"That's why the aim is to deliver at least 20,000 appointments there every year as a minimum.
"Patients can travel less to get their diagnostics carried out; when diagnostics are treated as the first step on a patient's journey, it will allow us to have that first step carried out sooner which allows us to see patients and deal with their health complications quicker."
Cutting waiting times
The new facility aims to reduce waiting times for clinical investigations as well as preventing delays in treatment.
Mr Howard said the centre's aim would be to see a patient "within two weeks" from the time they receive a referral for treatment.
"What this would allow us to do is not only take the care closer to the patient, they're not coming to the acute site or getting put onto the longer waiting list and being seen through the acute site," he added.
"The idea is they'd get referred and within a matter of days, they'd be having their diagnostic treatment carried out.
"Ultimately, the waiting times are consistent across the country and I think they've progressively got worse.
"We've been asked to make sure this CDC is in Peterborough because it's identified as one of the concentrations of where patients are needing reduced waiting times."