Salisbury Central Health Clinic to become diagnostic centre

The Central Health Clinic on Salisbury's Avon Approach is to become a diagnostic centre before the end of this year.

It's set to house things like x-rays, MRI and CT scans, blood tests, ultrasounds, endoscopies and other services - to save patients trips up to the Odstock hospital site.

Three of these centres are being set up in the Bath, Swindon and Wiltshire area - with health bosses telling us it'll bring 'greater convenience for patients', with support staff 'seeing more people in need of investigative care'.

Dr Peter Collins, Chief Medical Officer, Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust, said:

“During the pandemic, many diagnostic services were paused, as the NHS focused its attention on caring for patients with Covid-19, and people in need of lifesaving urgent and emergency care.

“Thankfully, with the pandemic now behind us, we are now in a position to really get back up to speed, and reduce the time local people need to wait for this kind of care.

“These new sites will ensure that more people can have the tests they need sooner and closer to home, meaning that conditions such as cancer can either be ruled out or identified much quicker than before.

“What’s more, by having a greater diagnostic capacity in the region, our teams can begin to develop more efficient and effective ways of working, while also utilising the latest technology and clinical advances.”

This move also comes shortly after the Central Health Clinic also became home to the District Hospital's Eye Clinic also moved to the site.

Dr Barry Coakley, Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire Integrated Care Board, said:

"These new diagnostic centres will be a fantastic addition to our local NHS, especially as we become much more focused on prevention, and helping people to live longer, happier and healthier lives, in which any potentially serious conditions can be spotted at the very earliest opportunity.”

Wiltshire health bosses also say the new community centres will 'provide an additional level of resilience' to local services, making appointment cancellations less likely.

Once all three sites are fully operational, it is expected that there will be an extra 65,000 diagnostic appointment slots available in Bath, Swindon and Wiltshire.

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