Rutherford Health and Bupa Health Clinics have opened the first of two new one-stop medical centres.

The Bupa Health Centres will give patients access to private GP appointments, health assessments, and physiotherapy under one roof.

And, if symptoms of cancer are identified during a consultation, patients will be directed to Rutherford's cancer specialists for MRI and CT scans, mammograms, and ultrasonograms on the same day, within the same facility.

The first clinic recently opened within the Rutherford Cancer Centre North West in Liverpool.

And a second clinic will open in Rutherford Cancer Centre North East in Northumberland later this year.

These one-stop clinics will help to strengthen diagnostic capability in the UK by providing patients with a critical healthcare facility that will be able to fast-track the time between diagnosis and treatment

Speaking at the launch, Kevin Solly, general manager of Rutherford Cancer Centres, said: “In the UK we are currently in the midst of a serious crisis in diagnosis and screening for cancer patients, and we know that early diagnosis of cancer saves lives.

“These one-stop clinics will help to strengthen diagnostic capability in the UK by providing patients with a critical healthcare facility that will be able to fast-track the time between diagnosis and treatment.

“As a care provider we are committed to reducing waiting times and provide a 24-hour service within a specialised environment and this will mean that patients can commence treatment sooner, which has the potential to save lives.

“It is a great example of how health providers can work together to improve care, create meaningful outcomes, and deliver tangible benefits to patients.”

Sarah Melia, general manager at Bupa Health Services, added: “Our suite of health assessments are designed to give people a current picture of their overall health and wellbeing.

It is a great example of how health providers can work together to improve care, create meaningful outcomes, and deliver tangible benefits to patients

“If any cancer symptoms are detected during an assessment, the partnership with Rutherford Cancer Clinics allows patients to quickly access treatment under the same roof, improving outcomes and giving peace of mind.”

Rutherford Health’s independent network currently consists of four cancer treatment centres across the UK – in Liverpool, Newcastle, Reading and Newport – and draws patients from across the country, offering them consistent access to the latest tests to guide their treatment.

In addition to providing high-energy proton beam therapy and conventional therapies such as chemotherapy, immunotherapy and radiotherapy; each centre also has state-of-the-art diagnostics including MRI and CT.