Construction firm GRAHAM has started building work on a £19 million Community Diagnostic Centre (CDC) in Workington town centre.

The Centre will be located next to Cumberland Council's government-funded Innovation Hub which is also under development in Central Way. GRAHAM is the principal construction contractor for the development, which is expected to open to patients in spring 2025.

Referrals to diagnostic services in north Cumbria have doubled over the past three years, which has led to longer waiting times. The team at North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust (NCIC) has worked hard to reduce waiting times by providing temporary mobile units at the Cumberland Infirmary and West Cumberland Hospital, but the new CDC provides a more permanent solution separate to the busy acute hospital sites. MRI, CT, X-ray and ultrasound scanning facilities will be available as well as consultation facilities.

-- Advertisement --

Faster diagnostics is key to diagnosing a range of conditions, including cancer, as early as possible. If a patient needs more than one type of scan, the Centre will aim to provide them in one visit to reduce travelling and waiting times for diagnoses.

Dr Madhu Varma, Clinical Director of speciality medicine and consultant cardiologist, said: "We are all delighted that work has now started to build the new centre. Our teams have been working hard to recover from the long-lasting impact that COVID-19 had on our waiting lists and are we are making good progress. By providing more diagnostics, this will help with quicker diagnoses of a range of conditions."

Allerdale Borough Council had previously supported the development with land allocation and this support is now continuing through Cumberland Council.