Health Minister Karin Smyth MP has officially opened Corby’s new Community Diagnostic Centre (CDC). The new facility, which cost £11.7 million, is set to provide more than 93,000 patient tests each year.
Located on Willowbrook Road, the centre aims to bring essential healthcare services closer to the community, helping to speed up the diagnosis and treatment of a wide range of health conditions, including cancer, heart disease, and diabetes.
The Corby CDC offers a variety of key diagnostic services, including MRI, CT, and ultrasound scans, as well as echocardiography and various blood tests. It will also deliver a specific dementia pathway, working with community groups to improve diagnosis and awareness.
The centre is a crucial part of a national plan to move care out of busy hospitals and into more accessible, local settings. By providing tests in the community, the CDC helps reduce the risk of people needing to visit a hospital emergency department.
Laura Churchward, Chief Executive of the University Hospitals of Northamptonshire NHS Group, highlighted the centre’s importance, stating that it will help staff and community partners better manage major health conditions and reduce emergency hospital visits.
The new centre has already received positive feedback from patients. David Binks, 70, from Corby, had an echocardiogram at the new site. He said the process was fast and painless.
“I got a phone call to book the test and was seen within a couple of days,” he said. “I think the CDC is great, enabling you to have these sorts of tests quickly and close to your home.”
The Corby Community Diagnostic Centre is open seven days a week, from 8 am to 8 pm. Patients will be referred for tests by their hospital consultants.
