New state-of-the-heart health centre opens in Torquay

A new state-of-the-heart health centre has opened in Torquay.

The Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust and InHealth have celebrated the official opening in the centre of the town.

The new Torbay and South Devon Community Diagnostic Centre will give thousands of people in the area access to faster diagnosis and treatment for a range of conditions, including cancer, heart, and lung disease. 

The partnership between the NHS and InHealth, the UK’s largest specialist provider of diagnostic solutions, will help speed up treatment, reduce waiting lists, and give people access to tests in the town centre rather than visiting Torbay Hospital, allowing teams there to focus on more complex and urgent emergency care and reducing the chance of appointments being postponed at times of high demand.

More than 1,400 patients have already been seen since the centre’s doors first opened in September, and more than 40,000 diagnostic tests are expected to be carried out during the next 12 months.

Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust is referring patients to the centre, where experienced clinicians offer high-tech scanning, including CTs and MRIs, x-rays, ultrasound, lung function tests, and echocardiography (heart scans).

People can also visit the centre for any blood tests (phlebotomy) they have been referred for. 

Liz Davenport, Chief Executive of Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust, said: “Waiting for a diagnosis of cancer or another condition can be a really worrying time, and the opening of the new Torbay and South Devon Community Diagnostic Centre will ensure thousands of people in our community will receive a quicker diagnosis and begin any treatment they might need. 

Above: Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust chief executive Liz Davenport

“The CDC is based in the heart of Torquay town centre, meaning that people can either walk, get the bus, or park nearby, have their test, and then get back on with their day without having to visit our hospitals.

"This is an exciting partnership which brings huge benefits to people and delivers on the NHS’ promise to deliver more care closer to people’s homes.”

Geoff Searle, InHealth Chief Executive, said: “We are delighted to be working in partnership with Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust to provide key clinical services to the local population, from such a great, community location.

Above: Geoff Searle, InHealth Chief Executive

"Across our nationwide network of CDCs, we’ve seen the real difference and positive impact that centres like these can bring for patients, focussed on improving health outcomes, so we are proud of what our partnership with the NHS in the Torbay area will deliver for local people.”

The new CDC in Torquay is one of five to be funded by NHS England South West in a partnership with InHealth, which has also seen mobile units going out across the region while the fixed sites are under development.

Dr Michael Marsh, NHS England’s South West Regional Medical Director, said: “Torbay and South Devon Community Diagnostic Centre is one of five procured by the NHS in the South West under a partnership deal with InHealth, at an annual cost of around £30million. 

“There are two other CDCs already operational, at Weston-super-Mare and Bristol, with the final two under construction at Yeovil and Redruth. Mobile units have been used to provide scans during construction of the permanent buildings.”

The centre is open seven days a week from 8am to 8pm.