New NHS Centre Promises Faster Scans for Thousands in Cornwall

Cornish residents are now seeing faster access to key NHS tests and scans following the opening of a new Community Diagnostic Centre in Redruth.

The Camborne and Redruth Community Diagnostic Centre is now fully operational next to Camborne Redruth Community Hospital, after being opened by Karin Smyth MP, Minister of State for Health.

What the new centre offers

The state of the art centre brings a wide range of diagnostic services together under one roof. These include X rays, MRI and CT scans, blood tests, ECGs, respiratory checks and endoscopy services.

By offering these services locally, the centre is reducing the need for patients to travel long distances to hospital sites and helping people receive diagnoses and treatment more quickly.

Partnership behind the centre

The Camborne and Redruth centre is a partnership between NHS Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Integrated Care Board and InHealth, the UK’s largest specialist provider of diagnostic and healthcare solutions.

InHealth already delivers MRI, CT and endoscopy services from mobile units at Community Diagnostic Centres in Bodmin and Penzance. Many thousands of patients are expected to benefit from the services now being provided at the permanent Redruth site.

📷Viewing an MRI scan in progress

Focus on care closer to home

Speaking at the opening, Karin Smyth MP said she was pleased to see the centre delivering care closer to patients, particularly for rural and coastal communities.

She said centres like this are a key part of plans to help people be seen more quickly and more conveniently, while acknowledging that the health service still has work to do to meet expected standards.

Susan Bracefield, Acting Chief Executive of NHS Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Integrated Care Board, said the new centre builds on existing community based services in Cornwall.

She highlighted that more than 96,000 tests, including MRI scans, blood tests and ultrasounds, were carried out at the Bodmin and Penzance centres last year, and said the Redruth site would allow even more patients to benefit from faster diagnoses and shorter waiting times.

📷Viewing X-ray facilities

Supporting west Cornwall communities

Debbie Richards, Chief Executive of Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, said the facility would deliver more care on the doorstep for patients in Camborne, Pool, Redruth and west Cornwall.

She added that the diagnostic facilities are on a par with those offered at Bodmin Community Hospital and sit alongside the Rosewarne Stroke Rehabilitation Unit on the same site.

Juliet Ferris, Place Director for West Cornwall’s Integrated Neighbourhood Team, said the centre supports joined up working between doctors, nurses and community health professionals, helping patients receive the right care in the right place at the right time.

📷Karin Smyth meeting patient Paul Sewry

Investment in NHS buildings

Geoff Searle, Chief Executive of InHealth, described the opening as an important milestone for Community Diagnostic Centres in the South West, saying the expanded model improves access, capacity and choice for patients.

Richard Mackay, Managing Director for the South at NHS Property Services, said the organisation worked closely with partners to deliver the centre and support the move from hospital based care to neighbourhood health services.

📷Karin Smyth greeted by representatives from NHS and provider InHealth

Easier access for patients

As well as easing pressure on hospital departments, the new centre is designed to be easy to access. The hospital site has strong public transport links, and 22 new parking bays have been added to improve access for patients and visitors.

Community Diagnostic Centres help free up hospital clinicians to focus on urgent care, while routine tests are carried out locally in a community setting, improving patient experience and supporting more efficient use of NHS resources.

📷Karin Smyth cuts ribbon to open new community diagnostic centre