Spotlight
Somerset NHS Foundation Trust to work with Alliance Medical Ltd as preferred provider to run the Taunton Diagnostic Centre
Following a robust procurement process, Somerset NHS Foundation Trust has appointed Alliance Medical Ltd as its preferred partner to run the community diagnostic centre in Taunton. This was agreed by the Trust Board at its meeting on Tuesday 6 September.
In June this year, following the liquidation of Rutherford Health, Somerset NHS Foundation Trust stepped in to run the Taunton Diagnostic Centre on a short-term basis to ensure NHS patients would continue to benefit from the centre.
Peter Lewis, Chief Executive of Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, said: “The Taunton Diagnostic centre enables us to continue reducing waits for patients. When the centre opened in late September 2021, 45.8% of our patients waiting for a diagnostic test were waiting longer than 6 weeks. Our latest figures show that the proportion waiting longer than 6 weeks for a diagnostic test has continued to fall and stood at 22.8% at the end of July.”
“Since our trust stepped in to run the Taunton Diagnostic Centre in June, we have been working together with Equitix, who own the building and the diagnostic equipment, to source a new partner to work with our trust, to operate the centre on an ongoing basis.
“This procurement process has now concluded, and we have appointed Alliance Medical Ltd as our preferred partner. We will spend the next weeks finalising our contract and preparing for Alliance Medical to begin running the centre from 1 November.”
Richard Evans, Managing Director, Alliance Medical Ltd, said: “Alliance Medical is delighted to be the preferred partner for the Taunton Community Diagnostic Centre. This award builds on our commitment to be a valued partner to the NHS in delivering community diagnostics across the country. Patients are at the heart of everything we do, and we are proud of our long history providing services with and for the NHS. We look forward to partnering with the NHS staff and clinicians in Somerset and to support further improvements in diagnostic services for the local community.”
Hugh Crossley, Chief Executive Officer of Equitix, said: “Equitix recognise the importance of the services carried out at the Taunton Diagnostic Centre for the people and communities it serves. We are delighted to announce that the procurement process carried out in partnership with the Trust to find a suitable new operator is now complete and that Alliance Medical has been selected as the preferred party to take over full operational responsibility. This represents a positive outcome and future for the centre.”
For further information, please contact:
Somerset NHS Foundation Trust Communications Team