A ceremonial ribbon was cut at the grand opening of a new Community Diagnostic Centre (CDC) in Halifax yesterday to mark its official opening.
The new facility welcomed its first patients back in July and is already seeing around 1,000 patients a week.
Located in Broad Street Plaza in central Halifax, the state-of-the-art facility provides community access to numerous diagnostic tests for patients across Calderdale. 5,885 diagnostic tests have been delivered since the CDC opened in late July.
The new Centre is part of Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust (CHFT) and provides planned outpatient tests, including x-rays, blood tests, ultrasounds and CT scans, as well as other diagnostic testing, including blood pressure and heart monitoring.
Outpatient diagnostic tests are also still available at Calderdale Royal Hospital and Huddersfield Royal Infirmary.
The new building is equipped with modern facilities and state-of-the-art equipment. It is easily accessible to patients in the centre of Halifax, close to numerous car parks and a five-minute walk from Halifax Bus Station.
74-year-old Peter Cole attended Broad Street CDC twice in one week for two different diagnostic tests, including a CT scan. He said: “It all looks very nice – very fresh and new. Having a bus station close by is very convenient – I came on the bus today. It’s a totally different experience – in a good way!”
Speaking at the event, Brendan Brown, Chief Executive of Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust, said: “We are incredibly proud to be at the forefront of innovation, embedding diagnostic services directly within our communities. Through doing so, we are helping to future proof our services by relieving pressure on our hospitals, reducing waiting times and improving access – bringing care closer to people’s homes.
“Having this facility here in the centre of Halifax, right next to the bus station, helps to make essential diagnostic services more equitable and accessible for everyone.”
Deputy Director of Operations and CDC Project Lead, Sarah Clenton, added: “I’m delighted that we’re able to provide this excellent facility for the people of Calderdale.
“It makes diagnostic tests more readily available to patients, enabling us to provide timely access for people who need an investigative test.
“Having it in the centre of Halifax allows us to give greater choice to patients, whilst increasing the number of tests we can carry out.”
Work is also underway to deliver a Community Diagnostic Centre on the University of Huddersfield campus, in a first-of-its-kind partnership. The new Huddersfield CDC is due to open in 2026.
Community Diagnostic Centres are one of the recommendations from Professor Sir Mike Richards, the first NHS national cancer director, who conducted a review of diagnostic services as part of the NHS Long Term Plan, published in 2019.
