A new chapter in the life of the Isle of Wight’s hospital began today as a "fantastic new facility" opened to speed up patient diagnoses.

The Isle of Wight NHS Trust said the Community Diagnostic Centre will provide 'life-saving checks' and enhanced experiences for patients suffering from serious long term health conditions including strokes, cancer and cardiovascular disease.

Patient checks taking place at the centre will cover fields such as cardiac physiology, respiratory physiology, sleep studies, fractures and phlebotomy.

The unit will also offer diagnostic imaging including ultrasound, CT scanning and plain film X-ray.

Chief officer of the Isle of Wight NHS Trust Joe Smyth said: "We are delighted to have opened our Island’s new Community Diagnostic Centre.

"The new centre will transform the way Islanders will be able to access the diagnostic care they need and reduce the number of times people will have to come to hospital."

Presenting an X-ray room, one staff member said of the centre said: "I am buzzing. It’s such a lovely place to be, such a lovely place to work.

"It’s really lovely to see patients filling in the seats out there," she said, pointing to an already busy waiting room and foyer."

Vicky Lauchlan, chief operating officer at the Isle of Wight NHS Trust, said: "Through the creation of the new Community Diagnostic Centre we have been able to invest in our people and the Island community.

"Over 40 positions have been created to support the new CDC. Existing and new staff, who have been recruited locally, have benefitted from apprenticeships and other training and development schemes to ensure we have the workforce, along with our fantastic new facility, to provide the very best care to our patients."

Lara Alloway, chief medical officer of NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight, said: "We are delighted to see the new Community Diagnostic Centre open on the Isle of Wight and commend everyone who has worked towards the opening of this fantastic new NHS facility.

"This is great news for patients living on the Island who will see speedier access to vital tests and scans, which are needed to ensure people receive the care they need in a timely way."