New diagnostic centre to reduce scan waiting times

4 hours ago

Chris Lockyer,Somerset,

Charlie Taylor,BBC Radio Somersetand

Andy Howard,Bridgwater

News image — The new centre will provide 25,000 scans a year

BBC A CT scanner: a large square unit with a hole in the middle and a length of plastic, in the shape of a stretcher, sticking out into the room. The room is otherwise empty, aside from a series of kitchen-type units on the right-hand wall and a colourful light installation on the wall to the right of the scanner. — The new centre will provide 25,000 scans a year

A new £17.8m centre, which will be able to process up to 25,000 MRI and CT scans annually, has opened its doors, thanks to a grant from NHS England.

NHS Somerset Foundation Trust hopes the new facility, in Bridgwater, will help cut waiting times for scans elsewhere in the county - by shifting capacity away from hospitals.

It is the third diagnostic unit in the region, after similar projects in Taunton and Yeovil.

Adam Turner, head of imaging at the trust, said the centre is "aimed at trying to tackle the backlog and the waiting list for scans" across the county.

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A waiting are with beige walls, curved soft seats and long, floor-to-ceiling windows. Contemporary light fittings on the wall and ceiling throw a warm light across the room. There is television on the back wall, and a door to the right. — The centre was designed to feel less clinical than traditional facilities

The new single-storey Bridgwater Diagnostic Centre is situated next to the town's community hospital and is "spacious, modern and welcoming" according to Craig Farrow, commercial manager at Ergea, who built the unit.

"It's very warm in its design," said Farrow, "but of course it has a clinical purpose and it provides state-of-the-art technology.

"It will make a tremendous difference for local patients"

A man, with grey hair, a beard and a moustache, wearing a suit jacket and white shirt, stands in front of an MRI scanner with a neutral expression on his face. A cylindrical scanner, with screens on either side, can be seen, slightly out of focus, behind him. — Adam Turner promised a 'slick' process at the state-of-the-art facility in Bridgwater

Turner said the centre promised a "slick" process.

"You'll be greeted at the really nice, very swanky-looking, reception, and hopefully very quickly called through into your patient room - where you'll have consent and any other preparations required.

"You need to get changed, then go straight through into the scan room.

"You have your scan and then back to your patient room... then back out again."

Patients can be referred by their GP or clinician to the facility, which also has four outpatient rooms where people can receive minor treatment.

Turner said the centre will help reduce waiting lists - particularly those patients waiting for CT scanning, where the trust had identified a backlog - allowing greater capacity in local hospitals.

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