Practice Plus Group Diagnostics, Buckinghamshire, also known as the Merlin Centre, has delivered diagnostic imaging services to tens of thousands of NHS patients since it first opened in August 2005.
Michelle Saunders, service lead at the centre, said: “We’re overwhelmingly proud of our team, and celebrating two decades of patient care together feels incredible.
“We always aim to create an exceptional experience for all of our NHS and private patients, and are dedicated to delivering the highest standards of quality and safety.
“Over the past 20 years we’ve been a driving force in providing the best patient experience and outcomes possible to people in our community.
“We simply want our patients to be diagnosed and treated as quickly as possible.”
The centre currently performs around 3,300 scans each month, including MRI scans, X-rays, ultrasounds, and echocardiograms.
Over the past two decades, it has also helped to reduce NHS waiting lists in the region.
In 2011, the centre introduced a dedicated musculoskeletal facility for patients with conditions such as arthritis, sports injuries, and other soft tissue concerns.
The centre has extended its opening hours over the years and now operates seven days a week, including bank holidays and evenings.
Sue Flitney, a 77-year-old imaging assistant who has worked at the centre since it opened, said: “Many people come in really nervous to have an MRI scan. I’m claustrophobic myself, so I understand it.
Sue Flitney (Image: Practice Plus Group)
“I stay with them, talk them through it, help them relax. Sometimes, you’re a bit of a counsellor too as people open up about everything.
“You don’t want someone leaving without having their scan because they are too nervous as that can set them back.
“If we spot someone struggling, we adjust. We do what we can to support the patient so that they get the outcome they need.”
The centre is currently undergoing a £1.5 million investment to expand services and meet rising demand.
This includes the installation of a new MRI scanner this autumn, which will bring the total to two permanent scanners, with space for a mobile unit as needed.
A refurbishment of the centre’s patient reception area is also underway.
Sam Adeniran, a senior radiographer who has worked at the Buckinghamshire centre since 2017, said: “The centre has changed a lot since I joined – in a really positive way.
Senior radiographer Sam Adeniran (Image: Practice Plus Group)
“We work closely as a team, like a family, helping each other and delivering high-quality care.
“I love helping people and being able to give them answers through high-quality imaging.”