Professor Sir Mike Richards welcomed at Livingstone CDC

Clinical lead behind the CDC concept visits temporary diagnostics site. Interim site will be in place until permanent setting opens next year. Community to benefit from improved access and availability to diagnostic services

Consultant medical oncologist Professor Sir Mike Richards attended the official opening of the Interim Community Diagnostic Centre (CDC) at Livingstone Community Hospital earlier this summer.

Prof Richards was the first National Cancer Director at the Department of Health and led the review of diagnostic services, recommending a major expansion of diagnostic capacity and a new model of service delivery. The CDC concept was proposed by him in 2020.

Stuart Hortop, Senior Strategy Manager for NHS Property Services, was also at the event and welcomed the clinical specialist to site, he explained: “We have delivered a number of CDCs across the country since their inception, bringing improved access and availability to diagnostic services for thousands of patients, so it was fantastic to meet Prof Sir Mike, one of the academic and clinical minds behind the concept. 

“We look forward to the project completion and working with our partners and NHS colleagues to ensure the outcomes are to the highest standards, providing long term healthcare for the local community for years to come.”

The North Kent Community Diagnostic Centre offers a comprehensive array of state-of-the-art diagnostic services, including CT and MRI scans, and cardiac physiology measurements to patients throughout Dartford. This interim solution is a critical step towards the full realisation of the CDC, which is set to open in its permanent facility in the spring of 2025.

"We are thrilled to see this project come to fruition and to welcome Sir Mike Richards to formally open this unit," said Steve Fenlon, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust. "The interim CDC is a testament to our commitment to providing exceptional diagnostics services to our community. We look forward to the completion of the permanent facility."

The event, held at the end of May, was a collaborative effort involving NHS Property Services, Compleo Health Ltd and Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust. It was attended by key stakeholders responsible for ensuring the success of the CDC.

What are Community Diagnostic Centres (CDCs)?

Community diagnostic centres are a way of providing highly efficient, quick-access diagnostic tests outside of hospital settings. They are another way to make sure we are providing the right care, in the right place, at the right time. The CDC will expand diagnostics capacity and is not designed as a walk-in care service.