World Patient Safety Day is on Tuesday 17 September and the theme this year is focused on improving diagnosis for patient safety.

To mark the day, we're shining a spotlight on the Devon Diagnostic Centre and the Buttercup Outpatient Unit, based at the NHS Nightingale Hospital Exeter, as these state-of-the-art diagnostic services are helping to ensure we can get it right and make it safe when it comes to reaching a diagnosis.

A correct and timely diagnosis is vital for patient safety, as it's the first step to providing preventative interventions and effective treatment. That's why these facilities at the Nightingale are so important for our patients, as they offer elective diagnostic services away from acute facilities, allowing easier and quicker access to tests.

The Devon Diagnostic Centre opened on January 2022 and has already delivered over 100,000 diagnostics tests to the people of Devon, offering CT, MRI, plain film X-ray, ultrasound, and fluoroscopy services. The Buttercup Outpatient Unit, which opened in June 2024, provides innovative one-stop clinics for a number of services, including respiratory, cardiology, sarcoma, dermatology, gastroenterology, and orthopaedics.

These clinics provide more convenience to patients, as they're away from a busy acute hospital, less visits are required, and there is a reduced likelihood of things being cancelled on the day due to emergency pressures. This all means patients are able to get their symptoms checked and receive a potentially life-saving diagnosis more quickly.