27 May 2025

Since opening its doors six months ago, staff working in our Outpatient and Community Diagnostic Centre at St Mary’s Hospital have delivered almost 55,000 appointments and tests to support improved diagnostic care for islanders - that's 420 patients a day! 

The purpose-built centre has seen the introduction of several new pathways and services to benefit our island community including DEXA bone density scanning, a Children and Young People’s (CYP) Asthma pathway, HRT bleeding and Community Cardiology pathways.

The Children and Young People's Asthma pathway, the only CYP pathway to be delivered within a diagnostic centre in the HIOW region, now means GPs can refer young people with suspected asthma straight to a diagnostic test, without having to wait for a consultation appointment. This means quicker diagnosis and helps to ensure young patients are given the right treatment, first time.

In six months, staff at the new centre have delivered 14,827 X-Rays, 853 echocardiograms, 4,142 ultrasounds, 8,168 fracture appointments and a further 18,289 diagnostic tests. The Phlebotomy Team have also carried out 20,899 blood tests.

Gill, a sonographer who has worked at the trust for 6 years said: “This fantastic new environment has made a massive difference to us as staff as it has given our patients that extra confidence that they are receiving the very best diagnostic care.”

As well as the introducing new pathways and services, the centre has seen an investment of £2.2million into state-of-the art equipment and further investment into the trust’s workforce, that includes 20 training posts to upskill staff.

Chief Operating Officer, Vicky Lauchlan, Isle of Wight NHS Trust said: “Our trust’s new outpatients and community diagnostic complex has helped us significantly improve the way we provide diagnostic care to our island community. We can provide even better care to patients helping them to get a quicker diagnosis and lead healthier lives.”

Patient and visitor feedback has also been positive, with many commenting on feeling welcomed and supported by staff as well as the new modern environment.

Rowan 12 from Carisbrooke who was joined by mum Marianne for his Spirometry Test to check his lung capacity as part of his ongoing asthma care said: “Rowan’s appointment went well, the centre is really spacious and feels so nice and modern.”

Roger, 82 from Cowes also echoed Rowan and Marianne’s thoughts. Having suffered from sleep apnoea symptoms for years was visiting the centre to be fitted with a monitor, following a referral from his respiratory consultant as part of an ongoing treatment plan. Roger said: “We think the new space is brilliant, and all the staff are really friendly and helpful.”

Notes to editors

The Outpatient and Community Diagnostic Centre opened on 4 November 2024. The new facility has supported the expansion of testing for:

  • Cardiac Physiology: ECGs, Echocardiograms, Blood Pressure Monitoring
  • Respiratory Physiology: Lung Function Testing, Spirometry and Sleep Studies
  • Diagnostic Imaging: Ultrasound, Plain Film X-Ray & CT scanning
  • Fracture Clinic
  • Phlebotomy (co-located and accessible through the diagnostic centre and outpatient entrance)

Island population data taken from the 2021 National Census: https://www.ons.gov.uk/visualisations/censusareachanges/E06000046/