Following news that £14 million of funding has been approved for a Community Diagnostic Centre (CDC) at Hinckley Hospital, Bosworth’s MP Dr Luke Evans pushed for funding to be unlocked for a Day Case Unit at the Mount Road site.
A bid by Hinckley Hospital and local NHS, supported by Dr Luke Evans the Member of Parliament for Bosworth, has been successful in securing funding to bring MRI and CT scans, X-rays, ultrasounds and blood testing to the area.
In a question to Health Minister Maria Caulfield in the House of Commons, Dr Luke welcomed the CDC and the benefits that such a facility will bring to the community but added “we are looking for more”.
Dr Luke raised endometriosis, stating that for such health issues you may need to have a small procedure, which can be carried out locally, and supported Hinckley Hospital’s upcoming business case to unlock funding approved before the pandemic for a Day Case Unit.
Health Minister Maria Caulfield said: “[The Member for Bosworth] campaigned hard for the CDC in Hinckley and I am glad that he has been successful. Community Diagnostic Centres will provide a range of tests to speed up the diagnosis process.”
In response to Dr Luke’s request to meet to discuss a Day Case Unit at the hospital, the Minister said: “I am happy to meet him, because [such units] are just the start of a huge opportunity to get diagnoses as soon as possible.”
Speaking after his question in the House, Dr Luke Evans MP said: “Funding for the CDC at Hinckley Hospital is terrific news for our area. Bringing testing facilities to the heart of our community will save local people time, increase capacity across our region and – importantly – contribute to earlier diagnoses and better outcomes.
“To really improve healthcare for people in Bosworth I am urging the Government to take a two-pronged approach: we’ve been given this funding for testing, now we need the ability to conduct procedures in Hinckley.
“I’m grateful for the Minister’s response and will be arranging a meeting as part of my ongoing campaign to improve health facilities in our area.”
