New Community Diagnostic Centre opens in Mansfield

A new state-of-the-art Community Diagnostic Centre (CDC) has officially opened in Mansfield, marking a major step forward in improving access to vital health tests across Nottinghamshire.
 
The purpose-built facility will enable thousands of patients to receive faster diagnoses, closer to home, delivering up to 100,000 tests each year. 
 
The centre will offer a wide range of diagnostic pathways in a convenient community setting, including endoscopy, MRI, CT scanning, and blood testing, helping reduce waiting times and support earlier detection of serious conditions.
 
The centre, located alongside Mansfield Community Hospital on Stockwell Gate, was formally opened by the Government's Parliamentary Under-Secretary for the Department of Health and Social Care on 15 April at a special event attended by representatives from the Trust, project partners, and key stakeholders.
 
The opening marks an important milestone in expanding local diagnostic services and improving patient access to modern healthcare facilities.
 
It comes as further investment was announced yesterday by the government for Community Diagnostic Centres across the country and the region, meaning patients across the Midlands will benefit from faster and more convenient tests, checks, and scans.
 
The announcement marks the opening of a new Community Diagnostic Centre, alongside the expansion of four existing centres and further enhancements across four additional CDCs in the Midlands region.
 
As part of the visit, the Minister toured the facility, met with staff and partners involved in its delivery, and saw first-hand how the centre will help increase capacity and bring diagnostic services closer to local communities. 
 
The visit highlighted the vital role that Community Diagnostic Centres are playing in supporting earlier diagnosis and improving patient outcomes across the country. Guests at the opening event were given a first look inside the modern facility, including demonstrations of some of the advanced diagnostic technology now available to patients. A ribbon-cutting ceremony marked the official opening of the centre before services began.
 
The CDC has been delivered through strong partnership working between the Trust, construction partners, and national investment in healthcare infrastructure. The Centre will play a key role in supporting local health services, reducing waiting times, and easing pressure on busy hospital sites.
 
Jon Melbourne, Chief Executive at Sherwood Forest Hospitals, said: “The opening of the Mansfield Community Diagnostic Centre is a significant achievement for our Trust and, most importantly, for the communities we serve. I’d like to extend my sincere thanks to everyone who has played a part in making this a reality, from our dedicated staff and project teams to our partners and stakeholders who have worked together every step of the way.”
 
Dr James Thomas, Deputy Chief Medical Officer at Sherwood Forest Hospitals and clinical lead for the project, said: “This new Community Diagnostic Centre is all about making things easier and better for our patients. We know that waiting for tests and results can be an anxious time, so being able to offer more appointments, closer to where people live, will make a real difference to their experience.
 
“By bringing a wide range of diagnostic services together under one roof, we can help people get answers more quickly and start the right treatment sooner. It’s a big step forward in how we care for our communities across Nottinghamshire. We are proud to see it open and ready to support local people.”
 
Health Minister Sharon Hodgson said: “This government has got the NHS on the road to recovery, with waiting lists falling to their lowest level in three years and a record 29 million diagnostic tests and scans carried out last year, but there's still a lot more to do.

“The NHS should fit around people’s lives, not the other way around, and this brand-new, state-of-the-art centre for Mansfield is going to offer convenient tests, checks and scans, avoiding trips to hospital.

“Community Diagnostic Centres like this one are a vital part of how we’re rebuilding the NHS and getting people seen on time again. More of these will soon be opening across the country through our £237 million investment in new, expanded and enhanced centres just like this.”
 
Dr Jessica Sokolov, Regional Medical Director for NHS England – Midlands, said: “We’re already seeing more investment being put into Community Diagnostic Centres across our region and the opening of Mansfield today means more patients across our region will be able to access scans and tests faster and at convenient locations to them.” 
 
By bringing diagnostic services together in one dedicated location, the centre will help ensure that patients across Nottinghamshire can access the tests they need more quickly, supporting faster diagnoses and better outcomes.