A project to create new outpatient imaging buildings at each of the three hospitals in Norfolk and Waveney has been given the green light by the Department of Health and Social Care.
The project will see an £85.9m capital investment, the largest investment in the region for over 20 years.
The new facilities will be based at the James Paget University Hospital, the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, and The Queen Elizabeth Hospital King’s Lynn.
LSI Architects is responsible for the design of the new facilities at The Queen Elizabeth Hospital King’s Lynn and James Paget University Hospital.
Each of the sites will house MRI and CT scanners as well as X-ray and Ultrasound imaging, which are used for diagnosis and monitoring of a very wide range of conditions, including:
- Cancer
- Heart disease
- Stroke
- Respiratory diseases
- Trauma
- Musculoskeletal diseases
- Neurology
- Most recently, COVID-19
The machines and facilities planned for each site include:
- JPUH – 1 MRI, 1 CT, 2 Ultrasound and 1 X-ray room
- NNUH – 5 MRI, 4 CT, 2 Ultrasound and 2 X-ray rooms
- QEH – 1 MRI, 1 CT, 2 Ultrasound and 1 X-ray room
The project is in response to a significant increase in demand for imaging and the project addresses recommendations from Oncologist Professor Sir Mike Richards set out in a national report.
In the national report, Professor Sir Mike Richards recommended that diagnostic centres should provide imaging capacity outside of the acute hospital building to support patients and healthcare staff in the diagnosis of disease and with a view to reducing waiting lists.
Further to help deliver the scans, there will be more staff recruited including radiographers, radiologists, and support staff.
The Norfolk and Norwich Hospitals Charity is also supporting this project by pledging £1.6m for imaging equipment.
This collaborative approach between hospitals and the wider Integrated Care System to deliver these services will:
- Increase capacity for diagnostic imaging
- Separate GP referrals and outpatient appointments from inpatient and emergency demand, improving waiting times
- Improve health outcomes with earlier diagnoses
- Provide modern, bright facilities and state-of-the-art equipment to improve the experience for patients and staff
- Standardise practices and collaborative working in Imaging services across the three hospitals
Leading the programme for the Norfolk and Waveney Integrated Care System (ICS), NNUH Director of Strategy and Major Projects Simon Hackwell, said: "This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to invest significantly in modern scanning equipment which is essential to so many of the patients under our care."
"By delivering a county-wide programme of this size it will allow the NHS to transform scanning services across Norfolk and Waveney. The result of which will help us see patients more quickly, meaning faster diagnosis and therefore faster treatment and improved outcomes," Hackwell concluded.
Health and Social Care Secretary, Steve Barclay, said: "Cutting waiting lists is one of the government’s top five priorities, and these diagnostic centres will help patients to be seen more quickly."
The facilities will use cutting-edge MRI, CT, and X-ray machines
"The facilities, backed by nearly £84 million in government investment, will use cutting-edge MRI, CT, and X-ray machines to diagnose a range of conditions – including cancer, heart disease, and respiratory conditions," Barclay continued."
"Once they’re fully up and running, they will deliver more than 281,000 tests, scans and checks to patients in the Norfolk region, speeding up access to vital diagnoses and ultimately saving more lives," Barclay concluded.
Image credit: Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital NHS Trust
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