A new £19 million Clinical Diagnostic Centre (CDC) in Workington is on track for completion and is expected to be fully operational by summer 2025.
The new CDC will be run by North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust.
The purpose-built, state-of-the-art facility will centralise a wide range of diagnostic tests under one roof, including CT, MRI, ultrasound, plain film X-rays and physiological measurements.
Construction began in April 2024 and has progressed steadily.
Gemma Richardson Lead Radiographer for NCIC said: “We’re thrilled with the progress on the CDC, it’s looking great and we can’t wait to see all of the new equipment being delivered and installed in the coming weeks. A lot of work is happening behind the scenes to get it ready and fit for patients to start using. We hope the new facility will have a huge impact on the amount of time people are waiting for diagnostics, which is a massive benefit to our patients.”
The new £19 million facility will centralise a wide range of diagnostic tests under one roof
The single-storey building has been developed with extensive input from healthcare staff to maximise its utility and patient-friendliness.
The design includes consulting rooms, quiet areas, and outdoor spaces to support both patients and staff.
Once operational, it is anticipated that the CDC will reduce waiting times, enable quicker diagnoses, and allow patients to begin treatment sooner, ultimately improving health outcomes across North Cumbria.
It is anticipated that the CDC will reduce waiting times, enable quicker diagnoses
Currently, diagnostic services are delivered primarily from the Cumberland Infirmary, West Cumberland Hospital, and through mobile units.
The new facility is strategically located in the centre of Workington, equidistant from the two acute hospitals, with strong public transport links, making it easily accessible to thousands of residents.
Although not a walk-in centre, the CDC will operate as a ‘one stop shop’ for planned diagnostic services.
Patients will access the centre via referrals from GP practices, national screening programmes, or outpatient appointments, offering a more co-ordinated and streamlined approach to diagnostic care.
Dean Oliver Director of Performance, Planning and Strategy at NCIC said: “The build has moved on massively in the last few weeks, it’s really impressive to see how far we’ve come in such a short amount of time. We just want to get the doors open and begin seeing patients as soon as possible, the centre will be delivering tests for cancer, heart and lung disease amongst others, we hope patients will feel in good hands in this brand new facility.”
Top image: The main entrance of the CDC