Hospital's new diagnostic centre will cut waiting lists and secure faster treatment, says Dudley MP
An MP has said a Black Country hospital's diagnostic centre will mean better outcomes and shorter waiting lists.
Dudley MP Sonia Kumar returned to her old workplace to see the new diagnostic centre at the town's Guest Hospital.
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Miss Kumar, who used to work as a physiotherapist at the hospital in Tipton Road, said the new centre represented a major step forward in local health care provision for residents.
The centre, part of a broader initiative by the Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust, has installed the pioneering Somatom Pro Pulse CT scanner — the first of its kind in the UK — enabling high-speed cardiac and diagnostic imaging closer to home.
The new scanner provides superior image quality and rapid cardiac diagnostics.
During the visit, Miss Kumar met trust leaders, radiology staff and patients, seeing first-hand how the state-of-the-art facility was already helping reduce waiting times, improving efficiency and relieving pressure on larger hospital imaging departments.
She said: “As we said in our manifesto, we are building an NHS fit for the future.
"This diagnostic centre represents a real win for Dudley residents.
"Having advanced imaging capability like the Somatom Pro Pulse scanner right here means faster diagnoses, fewer journeys and better outcomes for people in our community.
"I’m proud that through investment by the Labour government, we’re bringing these services closer to home — ensuring health care is fully up-to-date, accessible and rooted in local communities.”
Chief executive of Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust, Diane Wake, said the new cutting-edge scanners at the Guest Hospital relieved pressure on neighbouring Russells Hall Hospital.
"Getting a diagnosis quickly is absolutely crucial, it can make all the difference in starting treatment sooner and improving outcomes," she said.
"This community scanner is supporting faster diagnosis, faster treatment, and better care.”
Miss Kumar said the centre’s enhanced capabilities reflected the Government’s commitment to opening community diagnostic centres and expanding access to potentially lifesaving tests.
