Brilliant news that patients in Luton will benefit from faster and more convenient tests, checks and scans after the Labour Government officially confirmed investment in a new Community Diagnostic Centre (CDC) on the University of Bedfordshire site in our town centre. This is an important step for our community, giving people better access to life-saving diagnostics and combatting unacceptable healthcare inequalities.
Community Diagnostic Centres are local hubs that provide patients with access to a wide range of tests, including MRIs, CT scans and ultrasounds. They are located in convenient community settings including high streets, shopping centres, and retail parks, and many are open 12 hours a day, seven days a week, so patients can access tests closer to where they live, without needing to travel to hospital.
This site in Luton is one of 36 new or expanded centres across the country, backed by £237 million government investment. Together these will deliver the biggest boost to NHS diagnostic capacity in a generation, helping to catch disease earlier and save lives.
Expansion of these centres across the country forms part of this Labour Government’s innovative work to modernise care and bring it back into communities. Thanks to an extra £26 billion per year investment, the NHS carried out a record 29 million tests and scans in England last year. The government has also hired 2,000 more GPs, cut waiting lists by over 374,000, and delivered 5.2 million extra appointments in its first year.
Confirmation of the CDC follows the recent announcement of new investment in Liverpool Road Health Centre in Luton, set to upgrade facilities and improve accessibility by bringing more services together under one roof. This is part of the Government’s expansion of Neighbourhood Health Centres, designed to be one-stop shops for health advice, services, and treatment.
Locally, we have seen a reduction of 14,000 cases on waiting lists and nationally they sit at their lowest for three years. These key investments will build on progress already made and continue to improve access to care. They prove that this Labour Government is committed to making our NHS fit for the future right here in Luton, and across the country.