
Hinckley: Community diagnostic centre on track for opening
A new diagnostics hub is on track to open in May, according to an NHS body.The Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Integrated Care Board (LLR ICB) said the £24.6m facility would provide about 89,000 diagnostic tests per year in Hinckley.These tests will include CT and MRI scans, endoscopy, X-ray and ultrasounds, delivered by the University Hospitals of Leicester (UHL) NHS Trust.Construction on the site has been under way since April 2024 at Hinckley and District Community Hospital.
The LLR ICB said "significant progress has been made" over recent weeks, despite a January break-in at the site, for which four men were arrested.Helen Hendley, director of planned care for the LLR ICB, said: "We've made great progress on the new facility, which will make a big difference to local people when it opens. It will help to reduce waiting times and provide a more convenient facility for people in the community."Providing services closer to people's homes and where they work improves access to health services. We're excited to see the positive difference this facility will make."The other hub in the county - at Leicester General Hospital - has been running since 2021.

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21 minutes ago
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Coronation Street star rushed to A&E for urgent blood transfusion after struggling to breathe
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Scottish Sun
an hour ago
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The Sun
an hour ago
- The Sun
Major change to NHS cancer screening tests as health chiefs reveal millions of women affected
MILLIONS of women will be offered NHS cervical screening less often under radical new changes. Those under 50 will only be called forward every five years - instead of three like they currently are. 3 The plans, announced on Tuesday by NHS England, are said to be "in line" with "major" clinical evidence that suggests just as many cancer cases would be detected. Health chiefs said the changes would enable 'millions of women and people with a cervix in England to benefit from more personalised cervical screening'. "This new guidance is good news for those at low risk because they will no longer need to go for cervical screening as often," Athena Lamnisos, CEO of The Eve Appeal, said. Scotland and Wales have already introduced this protocol, which will start in England from July 1. Under the NHS screening system, which replaced smears, cells are tested for the Human Papillomavirus (HPV), which causes almost all cervical cancer. 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"This brings it in line with the screening gap for older women, following a similar approach to that used in Australia, the Netherlands, and Sweden Under the NHS plan, if a woman aged between 25 and 49 had a negative result, but previously had a positive test, they would still get a test three years later. Health chiefs said the new approach was more 'personalised' than previous approaches. Screening will also continue to be offered to trans men if they still have a cervix. 3 Michelle Mitchell, chief executive of Cancer Research UK, said: 'We welcome this change to cervical screening in England, which is the result of years of vital research to make screening more effective and has shown it is safe to extend the time between tests. 'Screening, alongside the roll out of the HPV vaccine – which Cancer Research UK scientists helped develop – have seen cervical cancer rates drop by around a quarter since the early 1990s, and we look forward to even more progress. 'If you notice any unusual changes for you, do not wait for a screening invitation – speak to your doctor.' DIY cancer check Cervical screening programmes and HPV vaccines have reduced rates and save 5,000 lives each year. Around 3,300 new cases are identified annually - that's around nine every day. And one in 130 women in the UK will be diagnosed with cervical cancer in their lifetime. Earlier this year, the NHS announced an at-home cervical screening tests could be rolled out in England from early 2026 for free. A new trial, known as the King's College London YouScreen trial, is the biggest to date and shows how the DIY kit can boost the numbers of women getting screened. Figures show that cervical screening uptake is declining, with nearly a third of women in England - particularly younger women - not taking up their most recent test. Experts say women may refuse testing due to a lack of convenient appointments, embarrassment and worries about the test causing pain. The new plan includes expanding the "ping and book" service, which sends reminders for screening appointments. Who's at risk of cervical cancer? Nearly all cervical cancers are caused by an infection with certain high-risk types of human papillomavirus (HPV). HPV is the name for a very common group of viruses that most people will get some type of HPV during their lives. It's very common and nothing to feel ashamed or embarrassed about. You can get HPV from any kind of skin-to-skin contact of the genital area, not just from penetrative sex. This includes: Vaginal, oral or anal sex Any skin-to-skin contact of the genital area Sharing sex toys In most cases your body will get rid of HPV without it causing any problems. But sometimes HPV can stay in your body for a long time and some types of high risk types of HPV can cause cervical cancer. If high risk types of HPV stay in your body, they can cause changes to the cells in your cervix. These changes may become cervical cancer if not treated. How to lower your risk of cervical cancer You can't always prevent cervical cancer. But there are things you can do to lower your chances of getting cervical cancer. Cervical screening and HPV vaccination are the best ways to protect yourself from cervical cancer. All women and people with a cervix between the ages of 25 and 64 are invited for regular cervical screening. It helps find and treat any changes in the cells of the cervix before they can turn into cancer. All children aged 12 to 13 are offered the HPV vaccine. It helps protect against the types of HPV that cause most cases of cervical cancer, as well as some other cancers and genital warts. You can also lower your chance of getting cervical cancer by: Using condoms, which lower your chance of getting HPV – but they do not cover all the skin around your genitals so you're not fully protected Quitting smoking – smoking can weaken your immune system and the chemicals in cigarettes can also cause cervical cancer Source: NHS