Further to my recent work on this, I would like to provide an update I have received from Toby Sanders, the Chief Executive of NHS Northamptonshire Integrated Care Board regarding the new recently announced Community Diagnostic Centre for Corby, following my request for further information regarding the delivery of the project, projected timescales, and its aims. As ever, any further updates that I receive in my upcoming meetings and communications in respect of the CDC, I will be sure to share here.
The award of capital funds to Northamptonshire to build Community Diagnostic Centre (CDC) facilities in both Corby and Northampton, is very good news indeed. It will be a substantial investment. For the two sites the capital (building and equipping) costs are in excess of £15m over three years. In addition, the two sites have secured revenue funding (running costs – staffing etc.) of several million pounds per year.
The placing of a CDC in Corby was reflective of the need to support the population in the north of the county which as we know has some significant health inequalities issues.
The activity to be undertaken in the CDC includes
• Computerised Tomography (CT)
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
• Ultrasound scans • Plain Film X-Rays
• Echocardiography (heart scans)
• Phlebotomy (blood tests)
The permanent building is planning to be built and accepting referrals from GPs in Corby by spring 2024, with some interim solutions for MRI and CT starting from April 2023 on the same site.
In terms of further detail, the next steps are procuring a number of partners to help us deliver this work, and that has already started. Therefore, at this point I will limit any details on that as we would not want anything to prejudice that work, as this could lead to legal issues which may impact on the delivery of these new services.