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A report from NHS England has found that the COVID-19 pandemic has identified a need for a ‘radical change’ in diagnostic services across the country. This report was close to publication before the pandemic identified additional actions needed to deliver higher quality diagnostic services.
As part of this ‘radical change’ NHS England identified a number of key actions that need to be undertaken to improve diagnostic services in NHS England, such as:
- Separating acute and elective diagnostics to increase efficiency
- Improving acute diagnostic services for A&E and inpatient care to cut delays
- Establishment of community diagnostic hubs away from acute hospital sites to keep patients as clear of COVID-19 as possible
- Improvements to community phlebotomy (blood taking) services so that all patients can have blood samples taken close to home without the need to visit hospitals.