On Friday 11th March, Finchley and Golders Green MP, Mike Freer, visited Finchley Memorial Hospital (FMH) to view its new diagnostic centre.
The centre, which was opened in October 2021, is part of a national NHS England and NHS Improvement’s programme to help accelerate recovery from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on routine diagnostic testing.
The FMH hub, which is one of 40 community diagnostic centres which opened in England, will boost diagnostic capacity across North Central London and provide patients with quicker and more convenient access to important tests for conditions such as cancer, heart and lung disease.
Services also available at the centre include CT, MRI, ultrasound and ophthalmology, additional blood tests, as well as cardiology and respiratory tests.
Commenting on his visit, Mike Freer MP said, “I was pleased to have the chance to visit FMH today. The new diagnostic centre is a fantastic addition to the permanent breast screening unit, the latter being something that I campaigned for and secured. I am very pleased to have this centre in the heart of my constituency.”
Mr Freer added that “residents can now have access to checks, scans and tests more easily and as a result, they will have a quicker diagnosis which will ultimately save lives. It will also inevitably take pressure off smaller, more local practices and hospitals.”
Mike also stated that it was “incredibly humbling to listen to the way staff at FMH were excited about the positive impact that the new centre could have on improving patient care.”