Health Secretary Wes Streeting has welcomed the opening of high-tech facilities for residents in North Manchester as the number of Community Diagnostic Centres offering out-of-hours and weekend care reaches 100 nationally.
The North Manchester Community Diagnostic Centre’s official opening ceremony marked the facility’s full completion after the recent introduction of state-of-the-art imaging facilities. Located in the North City Family and Fitness Centre in Harpurhey, the CDC brings essential tests and checks closer to home for local people, reduces travel to major hospital sites and helps people start treatment sooner.
Mark Cubbon, Trust Chief Executive of Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, and Kathy Cowell, the Chair, were joined by local councillors Pat Karney, Joanne Green and Basil Curley to officially open the CDC with a ribbon cutting event.
The North Manchester CDC has provided an additional 67,000 tests to patients since it opened in April 2024. The recent installation of state-of-the-art scanning equipment means that patients can now access high-tech CT and MR imaging from 8am to 8pm, seven days a week.
Wes Streeting, Health and Social Care Secretary, welcomed the official opening of the North Manchester CDC and the start of its full imaging service with the offer of extended hours to patients.
Mr Streeting said: “This government is determined to offer healthcare that fits around working people’s lives and not the other way around. From early morning MRI scans to late evening blood tests, we’re meeting patients where they need it most by extending the operating hours for community diagnostic centres and putting patients first. Our 10 Year Health Plan is revolutionising how healthcare works, and this achievement is a vital step in bringing care closer to community. Delivering on our Plan for Change, we’re building an NHS that’s fit for the future.”
Mark Cubbon, MFT Trust Chief Executive, said: “Our official opening of the North Manchester Community Diagnostic Centre marks a significant step forward in making healthcare more accessible and supporting our local communities to live longer, healthier lives. CDCs have a key role to play in delivering the Government’s newly-announced 10 Year Health Plan and we’re delighted to be extending the care provided from this centre to include easy access to high-tech scans.
“‘We will be building on this next year when we open a new purpose-built facility for our Manchester and Trafford CDC at Withington Community Hospital. This will further expand the number of tests and appointments we can offer in the community, helping to make our services more convenient and accessible for people.”
Kathy Cowell, MFT Chair, said: “The staff who joined us for the official opening of the North Manchester CDC are rightly proud of everything which they have achieved for patients. Bringing diagnostics into neighbourhood settings makes a real difference to people’s lives, and the go-live of our full services from this CDC is wonderful news for the people of North Manchester and beyond.”
MFT extends its sincere thanks to all the organisations who contributed to making the North Manchester CDC happen.