Plans for a new multi-million-pound hub to be created in north Cumbria to make sure people get health test results faster have been revealed.
North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust, which runs the Cumberland Infirmary in Carlisle and Whitehaven’s West Cumberland Hospital plus community hospitals, has been revealed as one of the health trusts chosen by the Government to run one of 40 new Community Diagnostic Centres.
The trust has submitted a three-year proposal to create a hub at Penrith.
It has been given £1.87 million for the first year of its proposals, which it said will allow it to bring in extra mobile CT and MRI scanners and boost existing ultrasound and endoscopy capacity.
It said the diagnostic centres will help achieve:
- Earlier diagnoses for patients through easier, faster, and more direct access to the full range of diagnostic tests needed to understand patients’ symptoms
- A reduction in hospital visits which will help to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission.
Dean Oliver, executive director of performance and strategy, said: “This welcome and much needed funding is great news for our patients as it will help to improve access to the diagnostic tests they need.
“Our local teams have already made great progress in ramping scans and tests back up to pre-pandemic levels.
“Now, in addition to the new endoscopy unit at Carlisle which will be operating for six months from November 1, this new investment will help us go even further.
“If further monies are awarded in year 2 and 3, we will be able to realise the vision for a full community diagnostics hub at Penrith Hospital.”
