NHS services could soon be offered in the Metrocentre in Gateshead as part of the ongoing drive to boost capacity for life-saving scans and diagnostic tests.
A recent hospital trust report shows that the potential expansion of the new "community diagnostic centre" (CDC) at Blaydon Primary Care Centre to a site in the nearby shopping centre is under consideration. CDCs form part of the UK Government's strategy to cut NHS backlogs which have rocketed since the early stages of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Blaydon, like North Tyneside Hospital north of the Tyne, has received a cut of £350m as part of the initiative. This has seen new CT and MRI scanning services introduced.
At North Tyneside, a new CT scanner has been funded, while at the Durham Treatment Centre on the Belmont Industrial Estate scanning services increased from five to seven days a week. Now, plans could see scans take place at the Metrocentre with the Blaydon diagnostic hub potentially expanding.
The idea was discussed in the context of a Newcastle Hospitals NHS Trust report about its efforts to meeting an NHS England target for carrying out more diagnostic activity - 120% - compared to before the pandemic. At the moment, this target is proving a difficult one.
In the report taken to the Newcastle Hospitals board in July, executives wrote: " Performance remains short of the 120% target. Whilst the extra capacity afforded by the Community Diagnostic Centre in Blaydon has helped increase activity, even the potential expansion to the Metro Centre is unlikely to provide sufficient capacity to consistently deliver the volume of tests as required by [NHS England.]
Ken Bremner MBE - chief executive at the South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Trust - serves as chair of the North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care System (ICS)'s "diagnostic programme board". He said: "Increasing diagnostic capacity across the region's NHS is a key priority to make sure patients get quick access to the tests and scans they need.
"Since the national funding announcement last year, we have provided more capacity for MRI, ultrasound, colonoscopy and CT scans through a number of mobile vans/modular units at various locations across the region. This extra capacity is already helping us to collectively reduce our waiting lists which have grown as a result of the pandemic.
"Plans are still being developed in relation to longer term proposals for Community Diagnostic Centres (CDCs). This work remains ongoing and will be subject to detailed planning and approval from NHS England/Improvement, as well as discussion with the new Integrated Care Board for the North East and North Cumbria who are now responsible for the commissioning of services."
Around the country, other NHS trusts have already begun using shopping centre units to deliver expanded testing and scanning services. In North East London the Whittington Healthcare NHS Trust is using space at a local shopping mall to offer x-ray services, ultrasounds, ophthalmology services and blood tests.
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