A new £19 million diagnostic centre in West Cumbria is set to open soon.
The brand new state of the art Community Diagnostic Centre in Workington is now a step closer to welcoming patients as the North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust have now taken official ownership of the building.
It was officially handed over to the trust by building contractor GRAHAM last week. The trust said it has set to open on time and on budget.
The centre is now ready for staff to begin training on the equipment and will open in a phased way to patients starting later this month.
It is set to benefit local people by providing a faster and more streamlined access to a wide range of tests, such as MRI, CT, X-Ray, ultrasound and lung function tests closer to where they live.
The trust said patients will be offered test and scan appointments sooner, leading to earlier detection and diagnosis and improved health outcomes for the local community.
The centre is an example of one of the key shifts outlined in the NHS 10 Year Plan published today – which seeks to move more care away from hospitals and into the community, in a bid to prevent patients from having to travel for tests.
It is being funded by the national CDC programme to help reduce health inequalities in the region by providing patients with access to the care they need.
Dr Adrian Clements, executive medical director, said: “Having a centre like this embedded in the local community is key to the future of the NHS.
“We’re delighted to take ownership of the new Community Diagnostic Centre, we know what a huge difference this new facility will make to our patients across Cumbria.”
