More patients get tests without going to hospital

Some of the diagnostic centres have extended their hours to weekends and evenings

A record number of tests and scans were carried out at Community Diagnostic Centres (CDCs) in the south west region last month, the NHS has said.

It said some of the centres had extended their hours to include weekends and evenings, allowing more patients to be seen away from hospitals.

The NHS said the tests included MRI and CT scans, echocardiography and phlebotomy at either permanent or mobile centres.

It said many of the CDCs were in locations such as shopping centres and near main roads, to make them accessible.

The NHS said the south west programme - covering Swindon, Bath, Wiltshire, Bristol, Somerset, Gloucestershire and Dorset as well as Devon and Cornwall - had contributed to reducing waiting times in England.

It had provided 1.9m tests and scans across the region since the first CDCs were introduced in 2021/22.

With numbers and opening hours continuing to expand, the total number of appointments this financial year was 279,874 (April to July).

Dr Trevor Smith, regional medical director for NHS England in the south west, said: "We're really pleased to see so many people taking up the offer of tests and scans at our 17 CDCs, which are often closer to home as well as being available outside working hours.

"The numbers across the south west will continue to ramp up as the last mobile CDCs are replaced by modular buildings."

Patients can be referred to community diagnostic centres via their GP or hospital-based clinical teams.

The 17 CDCs in the south west include Devon and Torbay CDC, Devon Exeter Nightingale CDC, West Cornwall CDC in Penzance and CIOS Bodmin CDC

Mobile units in Redruth and Plymouth are due to be replaced by permanent buildings under construction.