GRAHAM has handed over a new Community Diagnostic Centre (CDC) in Workington to North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust, with the facility now open to its first patients.
The project was announced in October 2022. GRAHAM was then appointed principal contractor in mid 2023, with work commencing in spring 2024.
Operational teams worked behind the scenes to prepare the centre following the build handover earlier in July this year, with patient appointments now underway.
The CDC is located in the centre of Workington, providing improved access to diagnostic services outside of hospital settings.
GRAHAM has handed over a new Community Diagnostic Centre in Workington
It aims to support health equality by offering services closer to home, especially for those in underserved areas.
Diagnostic testing at the new site will focus on planned care, which is expected to free up capacity at Cumberland Infirmary and West Cumberland Hospital for more urgent needs. Patients will be referred by GPs or specialists.
The new facility includes MRI, CT, X-ray, ultrasound, echocardiogram, and lung function testing.
Thousands of people are now expected to benefit from faster, local access to these services away from busy hospital sites.
Imran Devji, Executive Chief Operating Officer at North Cumbria Integrated Care, said: "The new centre is an excellent example of the Government’s recently announced ten-year plan, which prioritises moving care from hospitals to local communities and preventing illness, not just treating it.
"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. The CDC is pivotal in delivering this.”
Gemma Richardson, Deputy General Manager for Radiology said: "This was a proud moment for our staff and our community. The open day gave colleagues the chance to see the progress first-hand and contribute their expertise to a project that will benefit thousands of local people.”
Top image: Imran Devji, Executive Chief Operating Officer at North Cumbria Integrated Care at the new CDC