Saqib Bhatti MP has welcomed the news that Meriden will benefit from a new Community Diagnostic Centre (CDC) opening this year. This new centre will open in December 2023 and provide services including MRI, CT and Xray scans, along with cardiology and respiratory diagnostics. Once fully operational, the new centre will deliver an extra 116,000 tests, checks and scans a year. Backed by £2.3 billion in government funding, these centres are based in convenient locations such as shopping centres, football stadiums and existing hospital or GP sites. The government aims to deliver up to 160 CDCs across England by 2025.
The announcement of six more CDCs across the country set to open by the end of the year will help to cut waiting times for elective procedures and cancer treatment, bringing down the backlog from COVID-19 and improving patient outcomes. Following a referral from a GP or consultant, patients will be able to get their symptoms checked much closer to home and receive a diagnosis for a range of conditions such as cancer and heart or lung disease, rather than travelling to hospital. This is not only more convenient for patients, but also more efficient for staff and will free up clinician time to help further cut the waiting lists.
Commenting on the news, Saqib said:
“I very much welcome the news that the Government has chosen Chelmsley Wood for a new CDC. This will hugely benefit residents in the North of Solihull by improving access to key services. “I have been campaigning for better health coverage across the Meriden constituency since I was elected in 2019 and this news builds on the recent announcement of the re-opening of the Minor Injuries Unit at Solihull Hospital scheduled for later this summer.”
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said:
“I have pledged to cut waiting lists and these new community diagnostic centres will do exactly that. By offering checks, tests and scans closer to home, we can speed up the diagnosis of illnesses like cancer and heart disease and ensure patients get their treatment quickly. “These centres revolutionise the way the NHS delivers care and crucially, they are saving lives. Health and Social Care Secretary Steve Barclay said: “We know early diagnosis and treatment leads to better outcomes for patients, which is why these centres are so vital. “Based in the heart of communities, they are making it easier for people to access life-saving checks and cutting out unnecessary hospital visits. “They have already made a huge difference, delivering nearly 4 million tests, checks and scans since the programme started in July 2021, helping to deliver on the government’s commitment to cut waiting lists.”
