Maximise your community diagnostic centre's impact

The government has unveiled ambitious plans to tackle NHS backlogs, by expanding access to Community Diagnostic Centres (CDCs) and increasing the range of tests available at these centres. 

The plan, which will see CDCs open 12 hours a day, seven days a week, is designed to tackle the 7.5m-strong waiting list, and ensure more people are treated within 18 weeks. 

Optimising the use of CDCs is important, but it can take time and budget to do this well. We’ve worked with health organisations across the country to set up their CDCs to have maximum impact, and we’ve compiled some quick wins which can ensure you can put patients first and get them quicker access to diagnostic tests, and therefore faster treatment, if required. 

Adapt to suit your patients

One size doesn’t always fit all when it comes to providing diagnostic tests. A CDC doesn’t always have to be a purpose-built new building, and often converting and reconfiguring existing space can give you what you need, whilst making more efficient use of your estate. Additionally, for rural and geographically dispersed areas, static facilities are not always operationally viable, yet there’s still a demand for diagnostic imaging. Mobile diagnostic units offer a flexible, scalable solution to ensure these communities can access scans and tests. 

Find out more about how we supported a trust to operate mobile MRI and CT scanners at a new CDC site. 

It’s not what you know…

Creating a network of public and private sector partners around your estate gives you the opportunity to explore maximising clinical space through partnerships. By developing a joint approach to addressing health inequalities, you can pool resources, prioritise capital spend and see the bigger picture across a region, giving you more options for static and mobile CDC locations. Equally, getting views and input from as many stakeholders as possible means everyone’s engaged with your project, and working towards the same goal. 

For our project creating an infrastructure strategy for Greater Manchester ICS, we spoke to over 75 individuals from across the organisation and beyond, so we had an idea of their current position, vision, key challenges and key opportunities. This made sure everyone had a voice, and also gave us key contacts when it came to implementing the strategy. 

Discover how we put together an infrastructure strategy for the largest ICS in the country.

Before you act, analyse

We’ve said we’re giving you quick wins, but it’s important you make data-based decisions that deliver real long-term solutions. Our data team are the developers of the Department for Health and Social Care’s SHAPE tool, and we’ve used this to support health organisations in analysing the local population’s health needs and potential impact that proposed CDCs will have. This ensures CDCs are located in the right place, and offering the right range of services. SHAPE can identify health inequalities and the Core20 population to understand the communities which are being served by your CDCs. 

Find out how the SHAPE tool supported ICBs across the country to map ideal locations for CDCs.

How we can help

Sewell Group has extensive experience of supporting health organisations to deliver and optimise CDCs, from planning where to locate them for optimum impact, to project managing and constructing new build and refurbishment projects and helping achieve the best outcomes from your existing facilities. 

If you need support maximising the benefit of your CDCs or creating new facilities, get in touch with Sewell Advisory and we can help make sure your patients get the treatment they need faster.