A Cumbrian MP has welcomed the announcement that Penrith has been selected as one of 40 sites across England for a new Community Diagnostic Centre.
The new centre, which aims to provide health test results quicker, will begin providing services over the next six months, with all 40 centres set to be fully operational by March.
The centre at Penrith Hospital will provide services closer to home to meet rising demand.
Penrith’s new Community Diagnostic Centre will achieve earlier diagnoses for patients through easier, faster, and more direct access to the range of scans and tests needed to understand patients’ symptoms – including breathlessness and cancer symptoms.
The centre will also help reduce the risk of COVID transmission, and contribute to the NHS’ net zero efforts by reducing the number of patients journeys required in Cumbria through providing multiple scans and tests in a single visit.
The pandemic has meant that many people with health concerns have refrained from coming forward for checks and scans, while non-urgent procedures were postponed to allow the NHS to focus on the Covid response. Boosting diagnostic services is key to supporting the NHS in clearing the backlog.
Neil Hudson, MP for Penrith and the Border, said: “We know that many people have not been coming forward for key tests throughout the pandemic, which has contributed to an NHS backlog, and which can sadly result in worsening health outcomes.
“The new Community Diagnostic Centre in Penrith will help deliver better health outcomes for people in Penrith and The Border, by providing a local centre to test for and diagnose serious health conditions as quickly as possible.
“Alongside the new Cancer Centre in Carlisle, which was opened by the Secretary of State in August, this new investment from the Government will help us go even further with improved facilities for our region.
“Through investing in early diagnosis and increasing NHS capacity the NHS will be able to treat serious illnesses sooner and help save lives.”
