A NEW Community Diagnostic Centre is set to open in West Swindon. 

The West Swindon CDC will be based at West Swindon Health Centre on Link Avenue and once operational will deliver up to 18,675 checks, tests and scans a year for patients in the local area.

The centre will be able to deliver CT, MRI, respiratory, echocardiography, cardiology, sleep studies and pathology tests and scans. 

Mobile facilities performing CT and MRI scans will start in December of this year, and the remaining facilities are hoped to be in operation by September 2024. 

The move has been welcomed by both of Swindon's MPs, Sir Robert Buckland and Justin Tomlison. 

“We are both delighted that Swindon is set to benefit from a new Community Diagnostic Centre, which will increase diagnostic capacity and reduce waiting times," they said in a joint statement. 

“The new Community Diagnostic Centre will also be situated in a convenient location with good bus routes and parking nearby.

“Along with the £26 million awarded to Great Western Hospital by the Conservative Government to expand urgent and emergency care, this will help to improve care for the people of Swindon.”

127 of the community healthcare hubs are already open across the UK– including 40 brought forward earlier than planned.

They offer patients a wide range of diagnostic tests closer to home and greater choice on where and how they are treated, reducing the need for hospital visits and helping them to receive potentially life-saving care sooner.

The programme constitutes the largest central cash investment in MRI and CT scanning capacity in the history of the NHS. It has already delivered more than five million additional tests, checks and scans across the country.

The new centres will provide capacity for nine million more by 2025 as part of the NHS and Government’s plan to recover services following the pandemic.

Health and Social Care Secretary Steve Barclay said: “Patients deserve the highest quality care, and community diagnostic centres have been instrumental in speeding up the diagnosis of illnesses like cancer and heart disease to ensure patients are treated more quickly. 

“I’m delighted we will open 160 CDCs a year early, allowing greater access to high-tech scans and diagnostics in communities across England.

“This has been made possible by using all available capacity and drawing on the independent sector – helping us to cut waiting lists, one of the Government’s top five priorities.”