\n 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.\n<\/p>\n
\n Michelle Saunders, service lead at the centre, said: “We\u2019re overwhelmingly proud of our team, and celebrating two decades of patient care together feels incredible.\n<\/p>\n
\n “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.\n<\/p>\n
\n “Over the past 20 years we\u2019ve been a driving force in providing the best patient experience and outcomes possible to people in our community.\n<\/p>\n
\n “We simply want our patients to be diagnosed and treated as quickly as possible.”\n<\/p>\n
\n The centre currently performs around 3,300 scans each month, including MRI scans, X-rays, ultrasounds, and echocardiograms.\n<\/p>\n
\n Over the past two decades, it has also helped to reduce NHS waiting lists in the region.\n<\/p>\n
\n In 2011, the centre introduced a dedicated musculoskeletal facility for patients with conditions such as arthritis, sports injuries, and other soft tissue concerns.\n<\/p>\n
\n The centre has extended its opening hours over the years and now operates seven days a week, including bank holidays and evenings.\n<\/p>\n
\n 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\u2019m claustrophobic myself, so I understand it.\n<\/p>\n
\n Sue Flitney (Image: Practice Plus Group)\n<\/p>\n
\n “I stay with them, talk them through it, help them relax. Sometimes, you\u2019re a bit of a counsellor too as people open up about everything.\n<\/p>\n
\n “You don\u2019t want someone leaving without having their scan because they are too nervous as that can set them back.\n<\/p>\n
\n “If we spot someone struggling, we adjust. We do what we can to support the patient so that they get the outcome they need.”\n<\/p>\n
\n The centre is currently undergoing a \u00a31.5 million investment to expand services and meet rising demand.\n<\/p>\n
\n 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.\n<\/p>\n
\n A refurbishment of the centre’s patient reception area is also underway.\n<\/p>\n
\n Sam Adeniran, a senior radiographer who has worked at the Buckinghamshire centre since 2017, said: “The centre has changed a lot since I joined \u2013 in a really positive way.\n<\/p>\n
\n Senior radiographer Sam Adeniran (Image: Practice Plus Group)\n<\/p>\n
\n “We work closely as a team, like a family, helping each other and delivering high-quality care.\n<\/p>\n
\n “I love helping people and being able to give them answers through high-quality imaging.”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Practice Plus Group Diagnostics, Buckinghamshire, also known as the Merlin Centre, has delivered diagnostic imaging services to tens…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":86469,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[43],"tags":[102,2960,56,54,55],"class_list":{"0":"post-86468","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-healthcare","8":"tag-health","9":"tag-healthcare","10":"tag-uk","11":"tag-united-kingdom","12":"tag-unitedkingdom"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/86468","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=86468"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/86468\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/86469"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=86468"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=86468"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=86468"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}