Late last year, Montagu Hospital was selected to host one of a pair of ‘Community Diagnostic Centres’ (CDC) within South Yorkshire, following a £3 million investment from the South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw Integrated Care System (ICS), of which Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals (DBTH) has received around £230,000 of capital funding to complete phase one of a three part project.
Phase one of the CDC began 3 January 2022 when a mobile MRI was placed at Montagu Hospital, this was joined in early February by a CT scanner bringing to a close this current phase of the development. It is estimated that between January and the end of March, around 2,600 patients will be seen in Mexborough – work that will help to reduce the backlog of activity which has accumulated as a result of COVID-19-related restrictions.
Dr Tim Noble, Executive Medical Director at Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals (DBTH), said: “Last year we were delighted that Montagu Hospital was selected as one of the sites to host a Community Diagnostic Centre within South Yorkshire. Once complete, this facility will allow us to offer an enhanced service to our patients, conducting a range of tests in one place ensuring individuals are diagnosed as quickly and efficiently as possible, and, if required, treatment started swiftly, giving local people the best chance of a positive outcome.
“Colleagues have worked extremely hard to complete the first phase of this project, and hopefully local patients will begin to see the benefit of this new service, particularly as we move forward in the not-too-distant-future with phases two and three, when more diagnostic services come to Mexborough.”
The goal of the Community Diagnostic Centre is to improve patient experience by creating a one-stop-shop for a variety of tests and consultations. Overall, and once complete, it is envisioned that a patient will just have to keep one appointment, during which all relevant diagnostics can be performed, helping them to receive a clear and faster diagnosis, reducing any delays to the onset of required treatment.
The Community Diagnostic Centre will be developed within three phases – while phase one includes the provisions of MRI and CT scanning capacity, the second which will see further investment and will include ultrasound and endoscopy capabilities installed at Montagu Hospital, alongside a bevy of improvements, while for the third phlebotomy and cardiorespiratory services are being explored.
The funding has been secured as part of a national programme to help the NHS further accelerate diagnostic activity and recover services from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic as quickly as possible. It is a share of a £350m national pot to create 40 new Community Diagnostic Centres announced by the Government and NHS on Friday 1 October. The new one-stop-shops for checks, scans and tests will provide a combined 2.8 million scans in their first full year of operation.
The Trust is looking for local people to get involved with future projects and developments such as the Community Diagnostic Centre, sharing their views and helping to shape healthcare in the area. If you wish to be involved, please email dbth.comms@nhs.net
