Construction starts on new Community Diagnostic Centre

​Construction work has begun at Walton Hospital, so patients across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire can utilise a ‘one-stop-shop’ Community Diagnostic Centre (CDC), from Spring 2025.

The £5.2m development at the Walton Hospital Site is part of the wider £29.9m investment in CDCs across Derby and Derbyshire. Following an ecologist review, the site is now undergoing preparatory work, including the demolition of old plant rooms; paving the way for a state-of-the-art modular building.

Expecting to care for thousands of patients per year, the CDC will enable diagnostic services like blood tests, ultrasounds, MRI scans, CT scans and point-of-care testing to be delivered closer to patients’ homes and offer patients the ability to have multiple tests.

Once fully operational, the CDC at Walton is expected to complete thousands of diagnostic tests a year.

The demolition of the plant room and ground preparation is expected to take approximately ten days, with a custom-built modular build arriving on site in approximately 12 weeks.

Michelle Veitch, Chief Operating Officer at Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, said: “Community Diagnostic Centres allow patients to access services often closer to home. This means that our patients will have even more choice about where and when they receive their tests, allowing a shorter turnaround of results and the start of any required treatment.

“This is the start of the journey to deliver another fantastic facility for our communities. We believe the CDCs will reduce wait times for diagnostic tests and provide a more convenient and efficient service for patients in Chesterfield, Derbyshire and surrounding areas.”

Dr Hal Spencer, Chief Executive at Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, said: “As a Trust we are delighted to be able to expand our services further into the community. Our partnership with Derbyshire Community Healthcare Services NHS Foundation Trust means that we can provide diagnostic services from community bases across our region, like Walton Hospital and Whitworth Hospital.

“The purpose-built CDC at Walton Hospital will transform how we deliver diagnostic services to our patients throughout Chesterfield and North Derbyshire, where we anticipate around 5,260 tests being booked within the first month of opening.”

Dean Wallace, Chief Operating Officer at Derbyshire Community Health Services NHS Foundation Trust, said: “The purpose-built diagnostic facility at Walton Hospital will be a fantastic addition to health services in our community, allowing more patients to receive even more tests under one roof.

“I look forward to seeing progress on site and to the official opening of the community diagnostic centre next year. Thank you to everyone involved who is helping to make this much-anticipated facility a reality for the benefit of patients.”

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Blog written by Business Link East Midlands