Maggie Throup, Member of Parliament for Erewash and previous Health Minister has launched a new All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Diagnostics.
At the inaugural meeting, the APPG heard from Dr Katharine Halliday, President of the Royal College of Radiologists, as well as Dr Michael Osborn, President of the Royal College of Pathologists about the importance of diagnostics and the role that the APPG can play in raising awareness of this area of healthcare.
Commenting on the launch Maggie said: “Everyone will know that I am passionate about diagnostics - never has there been a more important time for diagnostics within the NHS. With the advent of the Community Diagnostic Centres and the need to have an effective recovery plan for the NHS post-pandemic, this aspect of healthcare is high on everyone’s agenda.”
Maggie added: “The group plans to conduct a short inquiry with the aim of providing a blueprint for how Community Diagnostic Centres should operate in the longer term.”
“I am delighted that we have a range of MPs and Lords from across Parliament within the group. I am excited to work with them and I look forward to seeing what we can achieve together. I would also like to thank Dr Katharine Halliday, President of the Royal College of Radiologists, and Dr Michael Osborn, President of the Royal College of Pathologists, for the important contributions that they made.”
Officers of the APPG include Lord Bethell of Romford, the Baroness Finlay of Llandaff, Elliot Colburn MP, Rt Hon Sir Oliver Heald MP, Tim Farron MP, Grahame Morris MP, Mary Robinson MP and Jim Shannon MP. The APPG for Diagnostics is being supported by the Royal College of Pathologists and the Royal College of Radiologists.