Opening of £19m diagnostic centre progresses
North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation TrustA £19m diagnostic health centre is set to open to patients later this month, health bosses have confirmed.
North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust (NCIC) said it had taken ownership of the Community Diagnostic Centre (CDC) in Workington.
Building work has been ongoing at the town centre site for over a year, with the centre set to provide MRI, CT, X-ray, ultrasound and lung function tests to the local community.
Dr Adrian Clements, executive medical director, said the centre would "make a huge difference" to those living across Cumbria.
"Having a centre like this embedded in the local community is key to the future of the NHS," he added.
It forms part of a national programme to improve local access to diagnostic testing.
The £19m funding was secured from the national CDC programme, which aims to reduce health inequalities in the region by providing people with access to care closer to home.
The trust said it had been handed the keys to the building by construction firm Graham and it had come in on time and on budget.
Staff are due to begin training before it is set for a phased opening to patients later this month.