A new £19 million Community Diagnostic Centre has opened its doors to its first patients.
The centre, in Workington, has been created with the aim of improving access to several diagnostic tests in the community, rather than people travelling to hospitals.
Services include MRI, CT, X-ray, ultrasound, echocardiogram and lung function testing.
North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust revealed plans for the project last year. It was built by contractor Graham.
Imran Devji, executive chief operating officer at the trust, said: “The centre will be a major step forward in improving access to diagnostics for people across north Cumbria, supporting faster treatment and better outcomes.
“Getting people diagnosed and treated quicker is absolutely crucial to a patient’s long term health outcomes and the centre is pivotal in delivering this.”
The centre has been built on land which was formerly part of the Central car park in the centre of Workington.
Patients will be referred to the centre for tests by their GP or specialists.
It will focus on planned care, which will free up diagnostic testing at Carlisle’s Cumberland Infirmary and the West Cumberland Hospital in Whitehaven for more urgent care, the trust said.
