Community Diagnostics Centre - CTM

2.1 Diagnostic services across South-East Wales are under significant pressure, leading to extended waiting times for patients and impacting on a wide range of clinical pathways and services. To provide a sustainable solution to the pressures faced and to deliver further efficiencies through pathway changes, Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board, acting as lead for the contract on behalf of the three University Health Boards in the region (Aneurin Bevan University Health Board (AB UHB), Cardiff and Vale University Health Board (CAV UHB) and Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board (CTM UHB)) wishes to commission a minimum of one imaging Community Diagnostic Hub (CDH) with the option to increase activity and the potential to expand to one further CDH over the course over the contract.

The level of growth of activity will be dictated by service demand requirements and will be subject to approval by the Health Boards beyond the initial imaging CDH. In addition, the Health Boards wish to commission the development of a regional Endoscopy Suite comprising up to four rooms to be co-located with an NHS Endoscopy Training Academy with two dedicated training rooms.

The CDH and Endoscopy Suite will be ISP staffed, with scope for rotation of NHS employees into these clinical spaces for training purposes. The Endoscopy Training Academy will be developed by the authority and made available to NHS staff for operational purposes once construction is complete. This model is viewed as being more efficient in achieving an accelerated training pathway for trainees in endoscopy without any lowering of standards whereby the co-location of training and service elements enhance decision making and progression to autonomous practice.