IHPN and AXREM publish joint paper on expanding community diagnostic services

Independent providers now deliver 1 in 5 NHS tests and scans, with Community Diagnostic Centres (CDCs) playing an increasingly important role in expanding diagnostic capacity and improving access for patients.

Independent providers now deliver 1 in 5 NHS tests and scans, with Community Diagnostic Centres (CDCs) playing an increasingly important role in expanding diagnostic capacity and improving access for patients.

IHPN and AXREM, the trade association representing suppliers of diagnostic medical imaging, radiotherapy, healthcare IT and care equipment, have today published a new joint discussion paper exploring how collaboration between independent healthcare providers, the NHS and medical technology manufacturers can support the continued expansion of CDCs.

The paper highlights how these partnerships are helping to increase diagnostic capacity, improve productivity, support workforce development and bring services closer to patients through CDCs and mobile diagnostic solutions.

It also sets out some recommendations for strengthening collaboration, including considering earlier engagement with independent providers and industry partners in diagnostic service planning and CDC development, as well as a greater collaboration on workforce training and development.

With diagnostic waiting lists remaining at record levels, the paper suggests that prioritising a sustained collaboration across the NHS, independent sector and the medical technology industry will be important to meeting growing demand and enable the delivery of more accessible diagnostic services.

Read more about AXREM here.