New diagnostics centre being set up in Cheshire

It's to help with the covid backlog.

Author: Matt MaddrenPublished 11th Oct 2022

The Health Secretary has approved 10 new community diagnostic centres (CDCs), as the hubs passed the milestone of delivering more than two million tests, checks and scans.

The new centres will be rolled out across England, including in Cheshire, although we don't know the exact location yet.

The Isle of Wight, Burnley in Lancashire and the Medway region in Kent will also have one set up

Based in community settings such as shopping centres and football stadiums, the hubs are designed to reduce Covid backlogs by speeding up diagnoses.

The centres house a range of equipment, including MRI, X-ray and ultrasound scanners and offer services including blood tests and heart rhythm monitoring.

Once referred by a GP, pharmacist or hospital, patients can access CDCs in their area and get symptoms checked out.

The one-stop shops, backed by £2.3 billion in government funding, have delivered more than two million tests, checks and scans since July 2021.

The Government has prioritised rolling out up to 160 of these centres across England by 2025 to help reduce Covid backlogs - there are currently 92 operational CDCs.

Other new CDCs will be in Warrington, Cheshire, Dudley in the West Midlands, Newmarket in Suffolk and Rotherham in South Yorkshire.

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