Construction work is underway for two new NHS community diagnostic centres (CDCs) in Lincolnshire as part of a £38million investment in services. The centres in Skegness and Lincoln will offer a variety of diagnostic services, including X-ray, MRI, CT and non-obstetric ultrasound, for convenient, timely care away from busy hospital sites. Both builds represent a significant development in local NHS services, with the centre in Skegness believed to be the largest single NHS investment in the town in many years. The Skegness CDC will be located on Old Wainfleet Road, while the Lincoln CDC will be on the Lincoln Science and Innovation Park, off Tritton Road. Both facilities will be run by United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust (ULHT). Julie Frake-Harris, Chief Operating Officer at ULHT, said: “The start of groundworks on the Skegness and Lincoln sites is a significant and exciting step forward in the delivery of this programme for our patients. “Working in collaboration with NHS Lincolnshire Integrated Care Board, we have involved patients and clinical teams at every stage of development to ensure we are creating an environment that is welcoming, modern and fit for purpose for the broad range of patient groups who will be able to use it. “The convenience of these facilities is supported by free on-site parking, and having diagnostic testing in the community not only helps to reduce waiting times, it also frees up capacity in our busy hospitals to support those in need of emergency care.” In Skegness, the CDC will have diagnostic facilities not previously available in the area, including CT, MRI, echocardiograms and dental x-rays. Plans also include a chemotherapy service to reduce the amount of travel necessary for cancer patients.

A temporary mobile MRI scanner has already been placed on the east coast in Mablethorpe, at Marisco Medical Practice, to provide additional appointments while the Skegness build is completed. In Lincoln, the CDC will have dedicated training facilities to support the training of future radiographers, with ULHT becoming one of the first NHS Trusts in the country to link directly with a school of radiography at the University of Lincoln. Temporary MRI and CT scanners are also already in place on the Lincoln Science and Innovation Park while building work is completed. The contract to build both CDCs has been awarded to MTX, a modern methods of construction specialist. Additional funding of £38m has been provided by the Department of Health and Social Care to make the development possible. These new CDCs follow the success of the Grantham CDC, which was the first to open in Lincolnshire in April 2022 and has recently had a £5m expansion to open CT and MRI facilities. To date, Lincolnshire’s CDC programme has supported the delivery of more than 80,000 diagnostic tests. Clair Raybould, Executive Director for System Delivery, NHS Lincolnshire Integrated Care Board, said: “The CDC programme is offering opportunity to explore how health and care organisations can develop and deliver services differently to address some of the unique challenges faced within our local communities, from a population and geographical perspective. “As well as offering vital diagnostic testing, Lincolnshire’s CDCs have been designed to allow clinical space for other services, enabling the facility to develop further as a community hub. “These partnerships are already helping to facilitate the provision of temporary services during construction works, the introduction of new services such as physiological testing, and the growth of future workforce development.” Skegness and Lincoln’s CDCs are expected to open to patients in autumn 2024.   Main image shows: The architect impression of Lincoln Community Diagnostic Centre Images courtesy of United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust

Lincolnshire County Councillor Colin Davie has spoken out against plans by National Grid and Osean to run a further three lines of electricity cables under the county, and to develop a substation at Alford that will be bigger than the town itself. In a statement at the council’s Executive he said: “In January National Grid announced plans to run a 140km line of 50m high electricity pylons through the Lincolnshire countryside, from Grimsby in North East Lincolnshire to Walpole, just over the Norfolk border. We have been extremely clear about our objection to this proposal. “We have since received details of two proposals from National Grid and one from Osean which will see three further cabling routes and infrastructure coming onshore in Lincolnshire. Once again, the proposals involve cables running under the sea all the way from Scotland, coming on land in Lincolnshire to take power primarily to London and the Southeast. “Whilst burying cabling underground has obvious benefits over large-scale above-ground infrastructure, with National Grid planning to carve up Lincolnshire through so many projects, we need to look at the cumulative impacts of all of these proposals and the detrimental impacts they will have on our landscape and the mental health of our residents. “This is industrialisation of the Lincolnshire coast is on a scale we have never seen before. A substation proposed for Alford, for example, has a larger footprint that the town itself. “If all these proposals were taken as one application by a planning authority, it would be refused due to the sheer scale of it and the impact, irreversibly changing to character of the county. “We will not accept this piecemeal approach to development. It is our job to champion Lincolnshire and fight for the landscapes and the communities that would be affected so hugely by these proposals. “Instead, we proposed that National Grid look to install this infrastructure offshore. This would be the most sustainable, secure, and cost-effective option and would mean the power could come onshore precisely where it is most needed, and not channelled through vast swathes of the countryside. “I will be writing to councils in the East Anglia – who are in much the same position – so that we can put on a united front against these plans.” These projects will be classed as Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects, so planning permission will be decided by the government, and not Lincolnshire County Council or the district councils.

Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance (LNAA) have given a big thank you to everyone who donned their running shoes during April to take part in one of three long distance running events and collectively raised a staggering £49,600 to date. This amazing accomplishment started with the London Landmarks Half-Marathon on 7 April. 15 runners competed in the race and raised £7,518 for LNAA. The Lincoln 10k on 14 April saw 288 people, including 250 runners from the University of Lincoln, join forces to run the picturesque route around some of Lincoln’s most iconic landmarks in aid of LNAA’s life-saving work. Together they raised £11,366. And finally on 21 April, 11 runners laced up their trainers and competed in the London Marathon, raising an incredible £30,000. LNAA Events Manager Georgia Watson said: “What can we say but thank you to everyone who took part in one of these three challenge events and raising such an unbelievable amount of money. The support from every one of our runners has funded 12 potentially life-saving missions.” Kate Ray, one of the London Marathon Runners, said: “It was absolutely incredible atmosphere and an amazing day to share with many doing something amazing to help so many good causes. I felt so privileged to run in aid of a very special charity – one that’s there to help on the worst day of someone’s life.” Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance receives no direct Government funding and relies on the generosity of people, organisations and communities in Lincs & Notts to fund the £13million needed this year to keep the iconic helicopter and two critical care cars operational. Participating in one of LNAA’s challenge events is one way to get involved, push yourself to the limits and raise vital funds. More details: ambucopter.org.uk/find-an-event/challenge-events/

Humberside Engineering Training Association is “proud of another significant achievement” as it announces record-high qualification achievement rates for its Level 3 Apprenticeship Programmes.

Established in 1967 by employers, for employers, the not-for-profit organisation has reached an all-time high in its success metrics but has also secured a prestigious position among the top 10 in the UK for Engineering & Engineering Construction training. The latest figures reveal that HETA’s achievement rates have soared, standing an impressive 20% above the national average. This remarkable feat underscores the organisation’s dedication to providing quality training, bridging crucial skills gaps, and facilitating sustainable employment opportunities for young individuals entering the industry. Iain Elliott, CEO of HETA, expressed his immense pride in the accomplishments of the HETA team, stating: “I am incredibly proud of our team’s hard work and dedication, which has culminated in these outstanding achievement rates. At HETA, we are deeply committed to equipping our learners with the skills and knowledge necessary to thrive in Industry.” Going on to emphasise HETA’s ongoing mission to address the skills gap prevalent in the industry and to empower young people with the tools they need to secure meaningful and sustainable employment opportunities, he added: “Our focus on delivering quality training not only benefits the individuals we train but also contributes to the overall strength and resilience of the industries we serve.” HETA remains committed to enhancing its curriculum to effectively address the evolving needs of the region. Recognising the importance of decarbonisation and the advancements of Industry 4.0, HETA continues to focus on developing learning modules that equip students with the knowledge and skills necessary to gain an understanding about these areas. By integrating decarbonisation strategies and Industry 4.0 principles into its curriculum, HETA ensures that its apprentices are well-prepared to contribute meaningfully to the workforce while also fostering sustainability and innovation within the region’s industries. HETA’s success comes at a crucial time when industries across the UK are facing significant challenges in recruiting skilled workers. By consistently surpassing national averages and ranking among the top institutions for Engineering & Engineering Construction training, HETA continues to play a pivotal role in shaping the workforce of the future. As HETA celebrates these record achievements, the organisation remains steadfast in its commitment to providing innovative training solutions and fostering a skilled workforce capable of driving economic growth and prosperity in the Yorkshire and Humberside region and beyond.   Image: Stock.adobe.com/pressmaster