Early Christmas Surprise: First Delivery of Community Diagnostic Centre Modular Builds Arrives at Walton Hospital

We’ve received an early Christmas present – and we want to share it with our colleagues, community and our patients.

We are thrilled to announce a major step forward in the development of our new Community Diagnostic Centre (CDC) located at Walton Hospital, with the arrival of the first ten (out of 15) modular builds, which have been delivered ahead of schedule!

Community Diagnostic Centres are ‘one-stop shops’ designed to enhance diagnostic services for our local community, providing faster and more convenient access to tests and services, often closer to patients’ homes.

The modular builds will house essential diagnostic equipment, including ultrasound, blood tests and CT scan facilities, helping to reduce waiting times and improve patient care and access in our region.

Michelle Veitch, Chief Operating Officer at Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust said: “We are thrilled to see the start of our modular builds arrive at Walton Hospital, marking a significant step forward in delivering this vital Community Diagnostic Centre to our local community and residents.

“The purpose-built CDC will improve patient access to diagnostic services, like important blood tests, ultrasounds and scans, and will provide a more convenient and efficient service for our region, all offered in a 'one-stop-shop' location, often closer to patients' homes and based in the community.  

“We are incredibly excited about this big step in the CDC project, as it marks a substantial milestone that has been achieved because of colleagues’ hard work. Thank you to everyone involved in delivering this fantastic centre and services to our communities and patients in North Derbyshire.”

The arrival of these units marks an exciting milestone in the construction of the CDC, which will be fully operational in the coming months. The project is part of the NHS’s wider efforts to expand diagnostic services across the country and ensure more people can access the care and tests they need, often closer to home.

Dean Wallace, Chief Operating Officer for Derbyshire Community Health Services NHS Foundation Trust, said: “It’s great to see this new building going up on the Walton Hospital site, after all the planning and investment to reach this stage. When community hospitals were first established a hundred years ago or more, to look after people in their own local areas, the sort of high-tech diagnostics we are bringing on site now could not have been dreamt of. It’s a new era for Walton Hospital, bringing a 21st century Community Diagnostic Centre on site as a welcome addition to the established NHS services provided here, in the heart of the local community.

“This is one of three CDCs located in our Derbyshire community hospitals and will greatly enhance the range of care we are able to offer to our communities when all three are open. The Walton Hospital development is being achieved in partnership with our colleagues at Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS FT, as is the successful diagnostic centre already up and running at Whitworth Hospital in Darley Dale. We can’t wait to celebrate the opening of Walton Hospital’s CDC next year.”

Jude Navesey, CDC Programme Lead, said: “The arrival of the modular builds at Walton Hospital is a significant milestone for the Community Diagnostic Centre project. This facility will not only help reduce waiting times but also ensure patients have access to high-quality diagnostic services in their local area. We are excited to see this project take shape and look forward to its positive impact on the community in the coming months.”

The next delivery contains five modular builds and will arrive in January 2025.