The number of patients waiting more than six weeks for a heart scan has been reduced by 41 per cent in the last four months, thanks to the new Ely diagnostic centre.
The figure for echocardiograms was revealed as part of the official opening of the Ely Community Diagnostic Centre (CDC) at the Princess of Wales Hospital on Friday.
At the end of June, 3,843 patients were recorded as waiting for longer than the six-week NHS target for an “echo”.
Four months later, at the end of October, that number was down to 2,263.
Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, which runs Ely CDC, says the average wait for this procedure has now been reduced from 17 weeks to 15 weeks.
Bruce Anderson, Ely CDC service manager, said: “This shows how the diagnostic centre is making a difference to patient waiting times.
“There is some way to go, but we are making good progress.”
The £13m facility has been completely kitted out with new equipment and began rolling out services earlier this year.
It is carrying out nearly 1,000 diagnostic tests a week and is also speeding up the diagnosis of conditions that can be life-threatening, such cancer and cardiovascular disease.
Other services available to patients include MRI, CT, fibroscan, phlebotomy, respiratory testing, ultrasound and X-Ray.
It means patients in East Cambridgeshire can now access these diagnostic services closer to home, without travelling to busy hospital sites such as Addenbrooke’s in Cambridge.
Some patients are even being seen the same day they phone to enquire about blood tests, which is also taking the pressure off stretched GP surgeries.
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Dr Hugo Ford is the director of Cancer Services at the Trust and is overseeing the CDC project.
He said: “Community diagnostic centres will play a pivotal role in the NHS and have arisen because of two key issues.
“Number one is that that we know the UK has among the lowest number of scanners and imaging test availability per head in the developed world. The second is the UK has some of the worst cancer survival times in Europe.
“Experience in other countries, particularly Denmark, has shown that you can actually turn that around. One way is by putting in diagnostic tests that people can access quickly.
“Professor Sir Mike Richards who led a review of NHS diagnostics recommended introducing diagnostic centres within communities so they are easier to get to, small and comfortable.
“These are better for outcomes because patients receive a quicker diagnosis and therefore quicker treatment. Generally speaking, they’re better for everyone.”
In our county, the Wisbech Community Diagnostic Centre in 2023 at North Cambs Hospital. Another is due to open late 2025 in Peterborough.
Charlotte Cane, MP for Ely and East Cambridgeshire officially opened Ely CDC on Friday (November 1).
She said: “This is a really great facility for us to have here in Ely and I think it’s going to make a big difference to the health of people in the area.”
Anna Bailey, Leader of East Cambridgeshire District Council, added: “This is an amazing facility for residents of Ely, East Cambridgeshire and further afield.
“To think we now have such sophisticated medical equipment like an MRI scanner in Ely is huge progress for our healthcare services.
“It can be a very worrying time if you need these services and having this centre right here will really help support patients and their families in our area.”
The Princess of Wales Hospital already offers a range of services, including a minor injury unit.
To accommodate the new vision for the site, a 270-space multi-storey car park and cycle parking for over 100 cycles is also being built.
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