The NHS have this week announced their Elective Care Reform Plan. With a target to return to acceptable performance levels by 2029, the plan focuses on patient choice, better use of Community Diagnostic Centres (CDCs) and delivering quicker surgery via the use of surgical hubs.
The Government estimate that these changes will facilitate up to an extra half a million appointments this year alone. CDCs’ opening hours are set to be extended to 12 hours a day, seven days a week; the range of test options will be expanded – though details are still scant; and more same-day tests and consultations will be made available.
BIVDA welcome the focus and funding on this key area, but call for further investment and uptake of in vitro diagnostics.
Paul Fisher, Head of Policy and Programmes, says: “CDC’s might better be called community scanning centres under the current model. In line with the government plans to move from treatment to prevention and to reduce the need for hospital attendance, we call on the NHS to create true diagnostics hubs – where patients can receive a one-stop testing programme appropriate to their need.
“Rather than attend a GP surgery for a blood test and then attend a CDC for a scan, centralising this capability can shorten the patient journey, integrate services, and leverage the NHS scale.”
