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What are Community Diagnostic Centres?
CDCs provide a broad range of elective diagnostics (such as checks, scans and tests) away from our major hospital sites such as Manchester Royal Infirmary, Wythenshawe Hospital and North Manchester General Hospital.
This not only reduces pressure on our hospitals, but provides our patients with access to diagnostic appointments with shorter waiting times and at times that are more convenient for them.
Thanks to the additional testing capacity within the community that CDCs provide, we aim to reduce health inequalities and improve health outcomes for our patients.
Patients are able to have diagnostic testing appointments at our CDCs in the following areas (depending on which CDC they attend):
- Imaging – scans including X-Rays and ultrasounds
- Cardiology – heart diagnostic tests such as echocardiograms
- Respiratory – lung tests
- Pathology – blood testing
- Endoscopy – tests to look inside your body including colonoscopies
- Ophthalmology – Eye tests including retinal imaging
What are the benefits of our Community Diagnostic Centres?
- In some cases, patients will be able to have multiple tests on the same day in the same place, providing more convenient access to diagnostic tests
- Waiting times for appointments are shorter
- Local patients will have access to some of the most advanced diagnostic technology available to the NHS
- A contribution to the NHS’ net zero ambitions; by providing multiple tests at one visit, this will reduce the number of patient journeys and cut carbon emissions and air pollution
Where are our Community Diagnostic Centres located?
North Manchester – Harpurhey
In April 2024 we opened a CDC in North Manchester, based out of the North City Family & Fitness Centre – providing North Manchester residents with access to ophthalmology, cardiology, lung function and respiratory sleep diagnostic tests, with Imaging services arriving in June 2025. Click here for more.
South Manchester and Trafford
Testing activity is currently being carried out within our existing Withington and Trafford hospital sites, whilst work is completed on a state-of-the art CDC on the existing Withington Community Hospital site.
Once complete, the CDC will be open 12 hours a day, seven days a week, reducing the need for patients to travel to one of our major hospitals for diagnostic tests – ensuring that they are cared for in the most appropriate place.
The CDC at Withington is expected to be open to local residents in Spring 2026. Click here to find out more.
You can find out more about Community Diagnostic Centres by visiting the NHS England website.
How can patients access our Community Diagnostic Centres?
Your GP or hospital care team will refer you for your required diagnostic test, at which point you will be able to select the most convenient location for you.
Our CDCs provide an additional choice for patients, and doesn’t replace any of your current options, so you may wish to have your appointment at a CDC location, your GP surgery, or another MFT hospital site.
Support in getting to your CDC appointment
North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) run a patient transport service for those who have a medical condition which could stop them from getting to their appointment.
To find out more, check if you’re eligible and to book transport, please click here.
NWAS have also created an easy-read guide, which is accessible here.