Wisbech’s North Cambridgeshire Hospital patients forced to travel to King’s Lynn’s QEH for X-rays due to ‘outdated’ and ‘inferior’ equipment
Patients are pushing for answers from hospital boards after decisions were made to move X-ray services more than 15 miles away.
Those living in Wisbech feel they have been facing “needless journeys” to be examined after North Cambridgeshire Hospital’s X-rays were moved to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Lynn due to “outdated” and “inferior” equipment.
MP Steve Barclay claimed bosses have refused to respond to his queries. However, North Cambridgeshire Hospital told the Fenland Citizen that the move was not its own decision.
A spokesperson for the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Integrated Care Board, which is responsible for the Wisbech hospital, said that those visiting the Minor Injuries Unit are still able to have an X-ray, but non-urgent or elective scans have been moved to Norfolk following a decision from the QEH.
“NHS Cambridgeshire & Peterborough is committed to ensuring patients can access services closer to home, including diagnostic tests such as X-rays,” they said.
“We are in active discussions with Queen Elizabeth Hospital and NHS Norfolk & Waveney ICB to find a way to enable Wisbech patients to get their X-rays carried out at North Cambs Hospital where clinically appropriate.”
But Mr Barclay has slammed the board, saying he had been in contact multiple times regarding when the Wisbech equipment would be replaced and received no answer.
He believes the organisation is pumping money into other areas when it is needed at the town’s facility.
“Whilst not replacing the equipment in Wisbech, they are building a new Community Diagnostic Centre in Peterborough on top of the other facilities already there,” he said.
“I believe people in Fenland should be told what the new X-ray equipment would cost, whether there are any plans to update the X-ray equipment this year, and if not, why this is not being prioritised.”
The QEH and Norfolk and Waveney ICB have been approached for comment.