Preston Healthport, a new community diagnostic centre has reached completion.

The site is a result of the partnership between NHSPS, Lancashire & South Cumbria Integrated Care Board (ICB), Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Trust and Lancashire Teaching Hospital (LTH).  It is estimated that the Preston Healthport CDC will provide an additional 105,000 appointments for diagnostic tests, checks and scans each year. 

NHSPS is proud to announce the completion of a brand-new community diagnostic centre in Preston. The investment comes from the NHS England Community Diagnostic Centres (CDC) Programme - £1.6million specifically allocated for NHS Property Services sites. The initiative aims to optimise existing freehold properties and land, create new diagnostic facilities and ultimately deliver excellent patient care. 

The investment supports the development of a community diagnostic centre at a key location in Preston. This project involves significant enhancements to the existing infrastructure at Brookfield and Fulwood as well as the extension of Healthport to accommodate a new X-ray machine and two ultrasound rooms. 

The success of this project has been made possible through the collaboration between key partners, including Lancashire & South Cumbria Integrated Care Board (ICB), Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Trust and Lancashire Teaching Hospital (LTH). As well as Owen Ellis Architects and Sterling Construction who led the design and construction work. 

The primary objective of the CDC project is to relocate diagnostic services from the hospital site to a community location. This move will relieve pressure on hospitals by freeing up space for increased bed capacity and provide easier access to essential diagnostic services.  

Throughout this project, NHSPS and its partners have demonstrated a commitment to financial and operational efficiency. An example of this is the optimisation of previously underutilised sites at Fulwood and Brookfield, creating more clinical spaces to deliver excellent patient care to the community. Plus, the ground floor of Preston Healthport is also now fully leased, again maximising space utilisation and unlocking value for the NHS. 

Libby Doherty, NHSPS Senior Strategy Manager, said: “This strategic investment exemplifies our dedication to delivering excellent patient care while ensuring value for money. We’re happy to say that the new CDC hub will enhance patient access to essential diagnostic services, reduce hospital pressures and improve overall healthcare in the area.” 

Alistair Rose, director of strategic estates, infrastructure and sustainability at Lancashire and South Cumbria ICB, said: “The ICB has a strategic vision for a high quality, community-centred health and care system by 2035. The opening of the Preston Healthport, to add to the portfolio of Community Diagnostic Centres in Lancashire and South Cumbria, brings us one significant step closer to achieving this vision.”

Jack Smith, Director for the Lancashire and South Cumbria Diagnostics Collaborative which oversees the implementation of CDCs said: "On behalf of the LSC Diagnostics Collaborative I am delighted to share that the Preston Healthport Community Diagnostics Centre is now fully operational after significant building works this year.  This upgraded CDC facility will provide additional imaging, phlebotomy and physiological measurement testing, helping to reduce patient waiting lists and provide better outcomes for our patients." 

Gerry Skailes, Chief Medical Officer at Lancashire Teaching Hospitals, who manage the new facility, said: “The new Preston Healthport CDC will be a great addition to the diagnostic services we offer patients in Lancashire and South Cumbria. Our ambition is to be able to provide community diagnostic services without people having to come to a big hospital. The CDC will help us make improvements to the care we offer patients by creating much needed additional capacity for our communities, enabling us to offer more lifesaving tests, checks and scans, quicker diagnoses and better care closer to home. 

This site is an example of NHSPS’ commitment to unlocking value and optimising existing space available to the NHS.