HALF a million patients have now received a test at one of Somerset’s community diagnostic centres since 2021, the NHS has announced.

The national community diagnostic centre programme began in August 2021 with the aim of reforming diagnostic pathways.

This offers patients a wide range of diagnostic tests closer to home, and a greater choice on where and how they are undertaken, reducing the need for hospital visits, and often leading to faster access to treatment.

The programme was launched on the back of an independent review of diagnostic services in England, undertaken by Sir Mike Richards CBE, at the turn of the decade.

Somerset’s community diagnostic centre programme offers 21 different diagnostic tests across a number of sites throughout the county, and is run in a collaboration between Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, GP practices, and organisations from the independent sector.

The programme has created flagship diagnostic centres, including the Taunton Diagnostic Centre, which was opened by Sir Mike Richards CBE in September 2021 and was the first independent sector partnership of its kind in the UK.

David Craig, programme director for Somerset’s community diagnostic centres, said: “For our colleagues to provide half a million diagnostic tests in such a short space of time is a real testament to the incredible effort and skill of everyone involved.

“The development of the community diagnostic programme has been achieved by forming partnerships across the health and care system, including the independent sector and local charities.

“When the programme first began in 2021, our diagnostic services were in a strong position nationally, thanks to the committed and highly qualified diagnostic teams already in place.

“But the additional investment by NHS England in community diagnostic centres since then has allowed us to grow our diagnostic capabilities from strength-to-strength, which has been particularly crucial as we recover our waiting times from the Covid-19 pandemic.”