The vital work we are doing to cut waiting lists continues to attract national attention and we were delighted to welcome Sajid Javid, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care on Thursday 31 March. He visited the Community Diagnostic Centre (CDC) at Barking Community Hospital (BCH) to see how additional diagnostic equipment is helping treat patients faster.

On the tour, Mr Javid spent time speaking with staff and he saw the mobile CT and MRI scanners, ultrasound facilities and X-ray machines which have helped reduce the number of patients waiting more than a year from 2,430 at the end of March 2021 to 959 at the end of December last year.

CDCs are a national programme, set up to ensure patients have access to planned diagnostic care nearer to home without the need to attend acute hospital sites.

Over the next few years, CDCs will improve health outcomes, increase diagnostic capacity, contribute to reducing health inequalities, deliver a better and more personalised patient experience and support integrated primary, community and secondary care.

Matthew Trainer, our Chief Executive, said: “It was fantastic to show the Health Secretary our seven day a week community diagnostic centre at Barking Community Hospital. Mr Javid saw how our Trust is working with colleagues in north east London, as one NHS team, to provide residents with additional diagnostic services.

“£11 million pounds of new investment will ensure more people receive the scans, the treatment and the care they need closer to where they live.”