Why do we need Community Diagnostic Hubs?

Acute and non-acute diagnostic services are under increasing pressure to meet growing demand. The release of the Richards’ Report in 2020 outlined the pressing need to introduce a new diagnostics model, where more facilities are created in free standing locations away from main hospital sites. In this NHS commissioned independent report into diagnostic services, Professor Sir Mike Richards argues that we should utilise high street, retail and other similar local sites to provide mobile healthcare that will deliver quicker and easier access to diagnostic testing – supporting earlier diagnosis, greater convenience to patients and helping to drive reductions in health inequalities.

Sir Richards’ writes his number one recommendation is to introduce transformative Community Diagnostic Hubs that will revolutionise diagnostic services in the UK whilst protecting against COVID-19.

The Richards’ Reports argues that we should not go back to the previous system of using main hospital settings for both acute and elective care: instead, we should keep them separate in order to continue reaping these benefits.

What are Vanguard Healthcare Solutions’ Community Diagnostic Hubs?

Vanguard Healthcare Solutions Community Diagnostic Hubs offer a unique and flexible solution to help health systems tackle their non-acute diagnostics requirements.

All projects are unique and will be designed in collaboration with the service provider. A typical hub will have a fixed or modular central building, which can be bespoke built by Vanguard using modern methods of construction. The schedule of accommodation for a hub can include various diagnostic solutions including, cancer screening, women’s health, endoscopy suites, non-imaging diagnostics, operating theatres, X-Ray, MRI, CT, mammography, dialysis units, and many more. All essential services including reception, waiting areas, wards, recovery area, consulting rooms, pathology and laboratory space, plant room, storage, and staff welfare areas are also included.

Additional flexibility can be achieved through the ability to have different “spokes” or specialities connected for different procedure types at different times through supplementary mobile facilities.

How can Vanguard Community Diagnostic Hubs work for our Integrated Care Systems (ICS)?

ICSs tend to cover large geographical areas, typically a population of more than 1 million. This can be one single metropolis, a collection of metropolitan areas or a much more dispersed rural population.

Vanguard Community Diagnostic Hubs offer a flexible and economic solution. Hubs can be rapidly developed and deployed using modern methods of construction at strategically selected locations across the ICS with all the key infrastructure in situ to deliver cancer screening, women’s health, endoscopy suites, non-imaging diagnostics, operating theatres, X-Ray, MRI, CT, mammography, dialysis units, and much more.

Additional flexibility can be achieved through supplementary mobile facilities being docked at different times.

What are the benefits of Vanguard Community Diagnostic Hubs?

  • Bespoke design and rapid deployment of central hub infrastructure using modern methods of construction.
  • Additional flexible provision to meet demand using a fleet of mobile facilities.
  • Drive down waiting times for elective and non-acute diagnostic services.
  • Free up vital main hospital capacity/space.
  • Provide a safer patient pathway in terms of infection control.
  • Bring services closer to the patient.

What are the clinical outcomes for Community Diagnostic Hubs?

Community Diagnostic Hubs create efficiencies of patient throughput and also reduce infection control risks.

The increase in availability and accessibility of elective appointments will help drive improved outcomes in cancer, stroke, heart disease, respiratory diseases, and other conditions.