A new centre which helps cut waiting times for tests and offers them in easy-to-reach places has been welcomed by a Norfolk community.
Healthwatch Norfolk was asked to find out the public’s views about having Community Diagnostic Centres in the Great Yarmouth area.
You can find their full report at https://healthwatchnorfolk.co.uk/reports/james-paget-cdc/
What is a Community Diagnostic Centre?
The centres carry out procedures including CT and MRI scans, ultrasound scans and x-rays, and are gradually being rolled out across the county.
One was opened at the James Paget Hospital in July 2024, a second called the Oulton Suite also on the hospital site which offers tests linked to treatment for breathing and heart conditions, and a third at Northgate Hospital in Great Yarmouth which offers CT scanning and also tests linked to treatment of breathing and heart conditions.
What did we ask people?
Healthwatch Norfolk gathered feedback from the public, patients, and hospital staff to understand their views and needs related to these new centres for hospital bosses.
This happened over a period before and after the centre opened, with Healthwatch Norfolk receiving survey responses from 130 patients and carers, and 12 staff.
People were also asked to give their views on how the centres should develop further looking at design, facilities and travel to understand what else people wanted to see in the buildings and how easy they are to access.
Healthwatch Norfolk also talked to 43 people who had already used the centre in the last 12 months to find out what they thought.
In addition, staff were asked for their views, a focus group was held with hospital volunteers, and the Healthwatch team also visited five local surgeries to talk to people in person as well as leaving paper copies of the survey for patients to fill in.
What did we hear?
Of those people who had already used the centre, 92 per cent (42 people) praised the building, staff and the time it took to access, while most also said they had a positive experience having a test there.
A total of 85 per cent of respondents (105 people) thought the centre would have a positive impact in the area. There was also praise for its extended opening hours of 8am to 8pm seven days a week, and people also thought the centre’s waiting area was good, although they felt it needed to be more accessible.
Meanwhile staff wanted to ensure it was staffed sufficiently so it did not increase pressure on them and employees were not stressed moving between buildings.
Based on the feedback, Healthwatch Norfolk is making the following recommendations to the hospital trust:
- Improve signage from car parks to the centre and provide more detailed directions and maps in appointment letters.
- Increase accessible parking spots and consider a parking system to better manage visitor flow.
- Continue collecting feedback from patients, visitors and staff to make sure both sites keep meeting their needs.
- Involve staff in discussions about improving conditions in the workplace.
- Make sure there are enough staff to help do the work within the centre, so it does not affect care at the James Paget University Hospital.
Outcomes
Since the report was completed, the hospital says it has improved signage and directions, ensured different methods of communication about the CDC including translation and Easy Read versions can be made available, volunteers help patients to navigate the CDC when they are available, and accessibility is discussed with patients and carers before a visit.
Reaction
Judith Sharpe, deputy chief executive of Healthwatch Norfolk, said: “Although our findings represent a snapshot in time, the findings are relevant not just to the East Norfolk site but can be applied to the other centres being built in the county and beyond.
“Our recommendations will help the hospital deal with any gaps in care, improve the support given to patients, and help cement their long-term future.
“Equally we would also recommend this engagement work is repeated for the next few years so this continuing feedback can help each site evolve positively.”
Find out more in the video below
There is a subtitled version of the video accompanying this report below.
