"Great facilities and even greater staff"

The other week I suddenly found myself with a very painful and partly immobile shoulder. I thought I should seek medical advice so, with hope higher than expectation, I'd been advised to get in early! I logged on to our surgery (Heart of Lincoln) website and typed in my symptoms and other information, using the "Anima" triage app. Within 30 minutes I'd had a helpful online chat with a member of the practice, I'd been referred for an x-ray and been told that I could go along to the Community Diagnostic Centre any time, no appointment needed. So, I walked along to Beevor Street expecting to find the same bunch of portakabins-in-a-carpark that had been there a few months ago. What I found, though, was a beautiful, clean, spacious, purpose-built building with great facilities and even greater staff.

At a time when there's so much concern about the NHS's ability to provide for the community's needs, this shines out as an example of what can be - and is being - done to invest for the benefit of the community and to make essential services much more accessible and convenient. Huge thanks and congratulations to all involved in developing Lincoln Community Diagnostic Centre - and huge thanks to the friendly, professional, reassuring team who work there.