Patients in Coventry are set to benefit from earlier diagnostic tests closer to home thanks to a new Community Diagnostic Centre (CDC) being developed.

Funded through £14 million worth of investment secured from NHS England and Improvement (NHSEI), work is now underway to transform the NHS Paybody building on the City of Coventry Health Centre site into a dedicated CDC which will give local communities access to a range of diagnostic services from early 2025.

Owned by NHS Property Services, the site was chosen for the CDC due to its position next to existing community services including the Coventry Urgent Treatment Centre (UTC), local GP practices, a community health care centre and mental health services.

In the CDC there will be state-of-the-art equipment including MRI and CT scanners, X-ray facilities, ultrasound rooms, respiratory and cardiac diagnostic services, hysteroscopy and capacity to support cancer diagnostic pathways through streamlined services.

The new facility will provide up to 75,000 additional patient tests a year by 2026 and forms part of the wider development of CDCs across the local healthcare system which includes a new Endoscopy Unit opening at the Hospital of St Cross, Rugby later this year.

Professor Andy Hardy, Chief Executive Officer of University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire (UHCW) NHS Trust, said: “The start of the development of the CDC is a major milestone for healthcare in Coventry as it will transform the way local communities access tests and scans and receive diagnosis for a range of conditions.

“Once opened, patients referred to UHCW will be able to get life-saving checks closer to home, without the need to attend our main acute hospital site which in turn will reduce their waiting times and improve experiences and outcomes. This activity forms part of our wider commitment to improving health inequalities and ensuring that everyone has easy access to the care they need.”

The centre will be staffed by a multi-disciplinary team including Radiologists, Radiographers, Sonographers and Healthcare Scientists as well as a team of administrative and support staff who will be offering a seven-day service for some tests.

Charlotte Jarvis, Senior Estates Strategy Manager for NHS Property Services (NHSPS) in the Midlands, added: “We are delighted to have supported the Trust in the development of proposals for the new CDC in Coventry.

“NHSPS looks forward to continuing to support the delivery of these proposals throughout development.

“The high-tech facility will help to transform how health professionals deliver the care that the people of Coventry deserve in an accessible location.”

Further updates on the development of the CDC will be shared as they become available.