Early diagnoses save lives.
I've seen it time and again as a health minister, that catching diseases like cancer at their early stages means a huge boost to people's survival chances.
That's why it's great to hear that a new Community Diagnostic Centre is going to open in Thanet. It’ll mean faster checks and scans for thousands of people across East Kent, including Faversham residents. It's one of 160 due to be open across the country by March 2024, including one already announced in Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells.
These CDCs have state-of-the art equipment to deliver CT, MRI, non-obstetric ultrasound, echocardiology and physiological sciences tests and scans - meaning closer-to-home tests, greater choice of treatment, fewer hospital visits and patients receiving life-saving care sooner.
I'm really proud that the government is going to meet its target to open 160 community diagnostic centres a year early.
These CDC’s are just one example of how we’re shifting care away from hospital and closer to people’s homes. Not only is that better for patients, it’s so much better for our health service too.
