£11.5m investment will transform patient care in Southport and Ormskirk

HOSPITAL patients in Southport and West Lancashire are to benefit from more than £11M of investment into exciting new facilities.

Southport and Ormskirk Hospital NHS Trust has received funding to provide a Community Diagnostic Centre (CDC) at Southport and develop new endoscopy services across both its sites. 

The developments will reduce waiting times for key tests and support work around delivering better outcomes for patients across both sites, while providing top quality facilities closer to home for many people in the area.

Lesley Neary, the Trust’s Chief Operating Officer, said the developments would be a massive boost to the area.

She said: “There are huge benefits to this programme for patients and staff at both hospitals. The earlier problems are found, the earlier treatment can start, and lives can potentially be saved.

“The new Community Diagnostic Centre will provide a vital service as the early detection and diagnosis of a wide range of conditions can lead to earlier support and interventions which lead to better patient outcomes, reduced hospital stays and potentially save lives, particularly for those people with cancer.

“Another benefit to the centre is that it will provide more access for care in the heart of our communities which will mean many patients, particularly in our more deprived areas, will no longer have to travel to areas such as Liverpool or Preston to get their diagnostic tests.’’

The investment also includes providing additional endoscopy facilities with new units on the Southport and Ormskirk sites which will provide a higher quality and more effective service that will increase capacity and support the CDC in the provision of quicker diagnostic results.

Lesley said: “The demand for endoscopy services has increased substantially in recent years. More than 50 per cent of patients on cancer pathways require an endoscopy examination and the earlier we can provide those tests the better for the individual.

“The development of our endoscopy services is key to meeting the needs of our patients and reducing backlogs in a timely and cost-effective manner.’’

Initial building works have now with all the developments scheduled to be in place by September.

The works will mean there will be some temporary short-term reductions in parking spaces at Ormskirk Hospital for patients.