Birmingham’s first NHS Community Diagnostic Centre (CDC) has officially opened.
The £2.18m centre will provide residents with a one-stop shop for appointments to diagnose an array of illnesses as part of work to combat growing waiting lists across the NHS.
Located at Washwood Heath Health and Wellbeing Centre, one of Community Health Partnership’s LIFT buildings in the Midlands, more than 45,000 patients each year will benefit from the latest cutting-edge diagnostic imaging technology for X-ray, MRI, and ultrasound, alongside heart investigations and access to blood tests.
Open seven days a week from 8am-8pm, the CDC provides convenient access and free parking for patients referred by University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust (UHB).
One of the centre’s first patients was Momodou Sonko, who had an echocardiogram as part of a routine check-up, and cut a ribbon to mark the occasion.
The 56 year old said: “I went to the CDC for an appointment to check how everything is going with my heart.
“It wasn’t long before I was called in to be seen, and the staff member explained clearly what would happen during the investigation.
“It’s not always easy to find your way around in a hospital, so the CDC was a great setting to be in."
By providing a more-local service with these essential diagnostic services all in one place, the NHS can provide a diagnosis more quickly, consequently allowing for quicker access to treatments where appropriate and helping to improve health outcomes.
Patrick Vernon, interim chairman of Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care Board; is pictured at the opening with patient, Bradley Hunt; and Councillor Mariam Khan, Birmingham City Council’s Cabinet Member for Health and Social Care
David Byrne, divisional director of operations at UHB, said: “This is a significant and important step for our health and care system, helping to ensure that diagnostic services are accessible to our patients and communities closer to home and reducing healthcare inequalities.
CDCs are part of the Government’s £2.3billion national investment to open up to 160 centres by 2025 closer to patients’ homes, helping to diagnose a range of conditions including cancer, heart, and lung disease quicker and ensuring patients are treated faster.
The Washwood Heath Health and Wellbeing Centre is one of the biggest centres in England providing a comprehensive range of diagnostic services in addition to the GP and community services already available in the building.
It was delivered in collaboration with Birmingham and Solihull (BaS) LIFTCo and its management services provider, Prime plc.
- Companies:
- Prime Plc
- University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust
- Community Health Partnerships
