New government funding to improve disease diagnosis

The government has announced a new research funding scheme that will aim to improve current means of diagnosing a number of diseases.

To be shared by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) between four NHS organisations in London, Leeds, Newcastle and Oxford, the four million pound funding pot will be used to establish national centres of expertise called NIHR Diagnostic Evidence Co-operatives.

Bringing together a wide range of experts and specialists from across the NHS and industry, the centres will be looking at new ways of diagnosing conditions such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, liver conditions, stroke and diabetes.

Every year over 16 million diagnostic tests are carried out within the NHS, making this research an important step forward in enhancing patient care.

Health minister Lord Howe said: "This funding will provide researchers with the support needed to ensure that this country continues to be at the forefront of healthcare research."

Earlier this month, the government made 260 million pounds available for healthcare providers to invest in new technology to improve patient safety standards.