Imaging centre opens in London to reduce waiting times
A new imaging centre has opened has opened in North London to help reduce waiting times for patients.
The Imaging Centre Limited (TIC) at Barnet Football Club’s Hive Stadium is the first in a series of planned diagnostic centres built to improve community access to CT, MRI, ultrasound and X-ray imaging examinations. The centre includes the latest advanced imaging equipment from diagnostics imaging manufacturer, Canon Medical Systems.
TIC is available to both NHS and private patients and is designed to speed up diagnosis, improve clinical decision making and treatment planning. Patients are seen to within days – quicker than non-urgent NHS referrals which take up to 18 weeks.
The facility will open 12 hours a day throughout the week and can extend to 24 hours if demand requires. TIC offers imaging equipment not currently found in other local North London clinics. This includes the UK’s first Galan 3T MRI from Canon Medical Systems.
Richard Bartlett, chief operating officer at The Imaging Centre, said: “Skill shortages in the NHS are acute and the demand for innovative imaging scans as a frontline diagnostic test is outstripping capacity at most NHS hospitals. Our aim with TIC at Barnet Football Club is a blueprint for further community-based imaging centres where patients can be seen quickly using the latest technology. Clinicians can swiftly gain access to detailed images and reports that they need to make an accurate and informed diagnosis. Greater imaging capacity across the UK will mean an improved flow of healthcare referrals that support the NHS and improve the overall wellbeing of local communities.”
Tony Kleanthous, Barnet Football Club chairman and CEO of The Imaging Centre Limited added: “The conception of TIC was for first class imaging for elite sports people. However, it doesn’t make sense to have advanced imaging equipment stood idle when not in use, especially when the NHS is facing so many pressures. This is just the start of our community imaging business plan and we hope to roll the concept out across the UK. Patient care at the heart of communities will improve the health and wellbeing for everyone.”
Mark Hitchman, managing director of Canon Medical Systems UK sad: “Access to top-end University Hospital grade imaging equipment within 24 hour referral is rare in most areas in the UK. The vision of TIC to see patients quickly and report scans straightaway in a seamless process is in tune with what patients expect. We are very pleased to be working with TIC, not just for this first elite diagnostic centre, but also the fleet of mobile CT and MRI scanners that are supporting the NHS on a day-to-day basis.”