UNDER-utilisation of the town centre’s diagnostic hub is adding financial pressure to Barnsley Hospital’s planned budget, a report has revealed.

The report shows that as of month three of the financial calendar, the trust reported a £3.1m deficit - and are therefore £300,000 worse than what they were expecting.

Phase one of the the Community Diagnostic Centre (CDC) opened in the Glass Works in April 2022.

It provides many of Barnsley Hospital’s outpatient diagnostic appointments on a pre-arranged basis and is conveniently located in the heart of Barnsley town centre.

The centre provides vital services such as breast screening, bone density screening, blood tests, ultrasounds and X-rays, while phase two has added additional services including bladder screening, CT scanning and retinal eye screening.

The second phase was completed earlier this year, and the report states that the utilisation of the CDC is having an impact on the trust’s finances.

It said: “The committee discussed the increased costs in the trust driven by pressures in the urgent and emergency care pathways and the continuing costs around temporary staffing.

“The committee noted that theatre utilisation and utilisation of the Community Diagnostic Centre remain below plan which is adding financial and delivery risk to the trust’s overall position.”

A Barnsley Hospital spokesperson told the Chronicle they expect work to pick up at the town centre site in the near future.

They added: “We are pleased to confirm that activity at the CDC is expected to pick up moving forward, after some initial delays involving the CT and MR scanner.

“Our original plan included activity commencing for both scanners from April 1.

“However, we only received the final part for the MR scanner in late June, resulting in a small delay in staff training prior to operational activity commencing.”