LEGAL experts from Bevan Brittan have advised NHS England on the deal to build five new community diagnostic centres (CDCs) across the South West.

The new centres will provide endoscopy, MRI and CT scans, ultrasounds, blood and lung tests.

In total, 13 centres will be opening across the country, delivering an estimated 742,000 additional scans, tests and checks a year.

InHealth, the UK’s largest specialist provider of diagnostic and healthcare solutions, will provide services at the community diagnostic centres located in Bristol, Weston-super-Mare, Yeovil, Torbay and Bodmin.

Whilst it isn't clear where exactly the centres will be situated, it is likely they will be located on retail parks or on the high street.

Until the permanent centres are established, InHealth will run mobile facilities. For example, a mobile unit is currently running at Weston's Locality Health Centre to provide endoscopy and imaging capacity for patients.

NHS England took a strategic approach to increasing capacity, acting on behalf of the six ICB commissioners, to carry out a combined tender to significantly increase capacity and to secure best value for taxpayers’ money.

Partner of Bevan Brittan, Sharon Renouf, said: “Medical professionals are using diagnostic tests more than ever before. This surge in demand has coincided with a backlog caused partly by the Covid-19 pandemic where non-urgent cases had to be cancelled.

"These new community diagnostic centres will add significant extra capacity and mean that patients across the South West will have swifter access to follow up tests.

“The contracts involved in this deal were very detailed and negotiations took some time because multiple NHS organisations were involved – NHS England and the NHS trusts and integrated care boards for the areas where the new community diagnostic centres will be located.

"There was also a separate contract to cover the temporary mobile services being provided by InHealth.

“The expertise of our commercial and infrastructure team and their detailed understanding of the healthcare sector means that we are well placed to advise on major healthcare transactions like this.”

Sharon was joined in the team by legal director Charlotte Scourfield, senior associate Angela Lovett, Susannah Jury, Laura Cook, Madeline Nankervis and Annie Richardson.

For more information, please visit the Bevan Brittan website.