Gateshead patients could get diagnostic scans in the car park of a Blaydon health centre in a bid to cut queues caused by the coronavirus pandemic
Gateshead NHS Foundation Trust is behind proposals to install a portakabin on the car park of Blaydon Primary Care Centre on Shibdon Road.
If the proposals are given the go-ahead by Gateshead Council MRI and CT scans will be provided from the temporary structure for up to four years.
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An application for lodged with the authority said the was needed to clear backlogs created by the Covid-19 crisis.
It said: “This is required to add to existing national capacity to urgently address of the backlog in urgent NHS diagnostic services due to the Covid-19 pandemic impact on hospital services across the country.
“The site is currently jointly used by Blaydon Leisure Centre and Blaydon Primary Care Centre for the the delivery of local authority leisure amenities and Primary Care Health Services to the residents of the borough of Gateshead and beyond.
“The location of the proposed demountable building within the site boundary is proposed to be on the existing tarmac hard standing used as coach parking (currently suspended due to Covid-19 impact and the need to locate testing station services etc) as shown on the proposed location plan.”
The authority’s planning department is expected to decide on the application by the end of March.
