More than 55,000 patients have been through the doors of the innovative NHS facility at the Metrocentre.
Staff outside of the Metrocentre NHS Community Diagnostic Centre has been open a year(Image: NHS)
In just a year, more than 55,000 NHS patients have been seen for vital tests and scans at the Metrocentre. That’s in the time since the pioneering community diagnostic centre (CDC) opened, as reported by ChronicleLIve in the old House of Frasier unit at the Gateshead shopping centre.
The CDC offers a range of tests and scans – from MRIs, to blood tests and even sleep studies – and it is open seven days a week. The idea was to bring such tests out of hospital and to a convenient location for the people of the North East and it is now hoped that additional services can be added.
One patient, Gateshead’s Margaret Wilson, 65, has been a regular visitor for blood tests. She said: “I have been coming to the CDC for six months for regular blood tests. It is easy to get to, and if I am early, I get seen straight away, no waiting around. It’s a great place, and I grab a coffee when I’m done and have a look around the shops.”
Dr Sean Fenwick and Rob Harrison, the acting chief executives at the Gateshead Health and Newcastle Hospitals NHS trusts, which are behind the scheme, said it had become an example of what the Government’s NHS 10-year plan is designed to achieve. The two hospital trusts are among the four part of the Great North Healthcare Alliance – which is designed to encourage more work across organisations.
In a joint statement, the two health bosses said: “The Community Diagnostic Centre shows what can be achieved when we work together to design services around patients. In just one year, more than 55,000 people have accessed vital tests quickly and locally. That not only improves outcomes but also reduces demand on our hospital sites. We’re proud of what’s been achieved and remain committed to building on this success.
The NHS Community Diagnostic Centre at Gateshead’s Metrocentre(Image: Newcastle Chronicle)
“This centre is a great example of the NHS 10-Year Plan in action, by improving access to care, supporting earlier diagnosis and delivering services closer to home.”
Newcastle Hospitals sleep nurse specialist Michael Scott said the new centre had brought benefits for patients in its first year. He said: “Patients often tell us how much easier it is to come here than to a hospital site. It’s a more relaxed environment and they feel comfortable, which makes the whole experience better.”
Gareth Davies, who manages the centre for Gateshead Health, said: “Being part of the team here has been incredibly rewarding. We know how important early diagnosis is, and being able to offer patients quick, local access to tests is making a real difference.
Aerial view of the Metrocentre NHS Community Diagnostic Centre (Image: NHS)
“We aim to deliver the best diagnostic service we can for Gateshead and Newcastle. All future additional diagnostics to the CDC will allow us to support even more patients with faster, more accessible care.”
Gavin Prior, Metrocentre Centre Director: “Seeing over 55,000 people come through the doors in just a year shows how valuable the Community Diagnostic Centre has become as a service within Metrocentre. Its success highlights what’s possible when the NHS brings essential services closer to people’s daily routines – in places that are familiar, accessible and easy to reach.
“Being able to combine healthcare with retail, leisure and dining in one location has been a real benefit for the community, and we’re proud to play a part in that.”
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