MTX, a modern methods of construction specialist, has been awarded the contract to build two new NHS community diagnostic centres (CDCs) in Lincolnshire.
£38m has been provided by the Department of Health and Social Care to make the development possible and the CDCs will be located in Skegness and Lincoln.
Both centres will offer various diagnostic services to take pressure away from busy hospitals and will be run by United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust (ULHT).
Julie Frake-Harris, Chief Operating Officer at ULHT, said: “The start of groundworks on the Skegness and Lincoln sites is a significant and exciting step forward in the delivery this programme for our patients.”
“Working in collaboration with NHS Lincolnshire Integrated Care Board, we have involved patients and clinical teams at every stage of development to ensure we are creating an environment that is welcoming, modern and fit for purpose for the broad range of patient groups who will be able to use it,” Frake-Harris added.
“The convenience of these facilities is supported by free on-site parking, and having diagnostic testing in the community not only helps to reduce waiting times, it also frees up capacity in our busy hospitals to support those in need of emergency care,” Frake-Harris concluded.
The new centres are expected to open to patients in autumn 2024.
The diagnostic services both centres will offer include:
- X-ray
- MRI
- CT and non-obstetric ultrasound
The Skegness CDC
The Skegness CDC located on Old Wainfleet Road is believed to be the largest single NHS investment in the town in many years.
In Skegness, the CDC will have diagnostic facilities not previously available in the area, in addition to CT and MRI, echocardiograms and dental x-rays, will be available to patients in the area for the first time.
The architect impression of Skegness Community Diagnostic Centre
Plans also include a chemotherapy service to reduce the amount of travel necessary for cancer patients.
A temporary mobile MRI scanner has already been placed on the east coast in Mablethorpe at Marisco Medical Practice, to provide additional appointments while the Skegness build is being completed.
The Lincoln CDC
The Lincoln CDC will be located on the Lincoln Science and Innovation Park, off Tritton Road.
In Lincoln, the CDC will also have dedicated training facilities to support the training of future radiographers.
The architect impression of Lincoln Community Diagnostic Centre
ULHT will become one of the first NHS Trusts in the country to link directly with a school of radiography at the University of Lincoln.
Additionally, temporary MRI and CT scanners are already in place on the Lincoln Science and Innovation Park while building work is being completed.
CDCs in Lincolnshire
The new CDCs in Skegness and Lincoln follow the success of the Grantham CDC, which was the first to open in Lincolnshire in April 2022.
The Grantham CDC has recently had a £5m expansion to open CT and MRI facilities.
To date, Lincolnshire’s CDC programme has supported the delivery of more than 80,000 diagnostic tests.
The new centres are expected to open to patients in autumn 2024
Clair Raybould, Executive Director for System Delivery, NHS Lincolnshire Integrated Care Board, said: “The CDC programme is offering opportunity to explore how health and care organisations can develop and deliver services differently to address some of the unique challenges faced within our local communities, from a population and geographical perspective.”
“As well as offering vital diagnostic testing, Lincolnshire’s CDCs have been designed to allow clinical space for other services, enabling the facility to develop further as a community hub,” Raybould added.
“These partnerships are already helping to facilitate the provision of temporary services during construction works, the introduction of new services such as physiological testing, and the growth of future workforce development,” Raybould concluded.
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