Community Diagnostic Centre nears completion

Anyone who has visited Queen Victoria Hospital or driven along Holtye Road over the past year will have noticed a significant change to our hospital landscape.

Since construction got underway in January 2026, our new Community Diagnostic Centre (CDC) has steadily taken shape and is now entering its final stages, moving ever closer to welcoming its first patients. Backed by an £8.4 million investment from NHS England, the purpose-built centre will help us expand diagnostic services for local people and support faster diagnosis and treatment.

Over the past nine months, the building has been transformed into a striking new addition to our site. From the installation of the steel framework to the completion of the roof and brickwork, each stage has marked an important milestone in bringing this exciting project to life.

While the building’s progress has been clearly visible from the outside, significant work has also been taking place behind the scenes. Clinical rooms and patient areas have been created, specialist equipment is being installed, and the technology and infrastructure needed to support the service are being put in place.

The project is in now its most exciting phase. Furniture is being installed, final testing is underway, and finishing touches, including decoration and artwork, are helping to create a welcoming environment for patients, visitors and staff.

Designed around patients
We already provide a wide range of diagnostic tests and scans, including MRI, CT, ultrasound, X-ray, lung function and echocardiogram services. Our Community Diagnostic Centre will build on these strong foundations, giving us more space to see more patients, enhance existing services and develop new ways of delivering care.

Tamara Everington, our Managing Director, said: “Our Community Diagnostic Centre is about much more than increasing the number of tests and scans we can provide. It’s about helping patients get answers about their health more quickly and ensuring they can move smoothly to the next stage of their care when needed. Whether that’s the reassurance of an all-clear or prompt access to further treatment, our aim is to create a better experience for patients through more joined-up and innovative pathways of care.”

For patients, that means quicker access to tests and scans, shorter waits for results and earlier diagnoses. Bringing services together under one roof will also make appointments simpler and more convenient, with more opportunities for patients to have multiple tests during the same visit.

The new centre will also help different healthcare teams work more closely together by making it easier to share information and results, helping patients move more quickly from diagnosis to treatment and ensuring that care is coordinated around their needs.

The project’s progress reflects the close collaboration between NHS teams and partners from across the construction, design and engineering sectors. As with any programme of this size and complexity, there have been challenges along the way, but a shared commitment to improving care for local people has helped bring the project to this important milestone.

As completion draws nearer, the Community Diagnostic Centre is becoming much more than a new building. It is an investment in faster diagnoses, more joined-up care and improved outcomes for our communities, helping more people get the answers they need sooner and access the right care at the right time.