A ground-breaking new approach in providing health tests closer to home is delivering great results for patients across Lancashire and South Cumbria.

Over 210,000 patients across the area have now received diagnostic tests at local Community Diagnostics Centres (CDCs).

The milestone was reached this week, just two years after CDCs were first introduced as a way of offering more flexibility and choice to patients.

Vivien Reitan, from Rossendale, is just one patient who has found using a CDC more convenient, as travelling to other hospitals is not easy due to health conditions. She said: “When I first saw it, I was blown away.

“It is very difficult for someone like myself with mobility problems to travel to places such as Blackburn or Burnley. I don’t like asking friends and neighbours for lifts because I have good days and bad days so worry that I won’t be able to repay the favour. Public transport is not always the easiest for me to access either so I tend to rely on taxis – which can get extremely costly.

“Being able to access more services closer to home, such as diagnostic procedures makes such a difference to my life and that of many others living in the borough.”

Eight are now operational across Lancashire and South Cumbria – offering a range of tests, including CT scans, MRI, X-ray, endoscopy procedures, audiology and cardiac testing.

Lancashire and South Cumbria director for diagnostics Jack Smith said: “CDCs aim to deliver high-quality, effective and accessible diagnostic services to our communities and have already contributed to a reduction in CT waits where there are no longer any patients waiting over 13 weeks and 97 per cent of patients are waiting under six weeks. This is just one example of how CDCs are impacting our waiting lists and our communities.

“In addition, not only can patients now be seen closer to their homes in some circumstances, but they also have a more relaxed experience away from the busy hospital sites. This is particularly important for those who are understandably anxious about the procedures and the outcomes of the tests they are having.

“A number of our CDCs have new equipment harnessing the latest technology which is contributing to improved workflow and staff retention.”