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Thousands of patients are having important tests, such as X-rays and scans sooner thanks to the roll out of community diagnostic centres (CDCs), Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust has said.

The trust said the new CDC at Crawley Hospital, which has been open for 18 months, has already conducted more than 100,000 diagnostic tests.

Some of the scans and tests included in the newly-expanded services include CT scans, x-rays, ultrasounds, blood and respiratory tests.

From December, a new mammography machine will also ensure more patients can have breast cancer checks locally.

The 3D biopsy checks were only previously available at East Surrey Hospital.

Patients can also now receive MRI scans at Crawley Hospital, and the introduction of an additional CT scanner has helped cut waiting lists, the trust said.

The diagnostic services at Crawley were first expanded in April 2023 after plans for the new CDC were confirmed as part of a national NHS programme.

The final phase of the Crawley CDC project is expected to open in 2026.

Eventually, the hub will offer patients a 12-hour service, six days a week.

Dr James Ramsey, chief medical officer at NHS Sussex said: “Our patients deserve the highest quality care, and this centre has already been instrumental in enabling thousands of patients to access vital diagnostic services quickly and efficiently, without needing to travel to an acute hospital site.”

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