Breaking ground on our new Diagnostic Centre
Yesterday a breaking ground ceremony celebrated the start of construction on our new Diagnostic Centre which is set to see 500 patients a day when it is fully up and running in 2025.
The centre will provide patients with better access to modern imaging and scanning equipment, and earlier diagnoses of conditions.
The NNUH Diagnostic Centre will feature new equipment including 5 MRI and 4 CT scanners, 2 additional Ultrasound rooms and 2 X-ray rooms. These are used for diagnosis and monitoring of a wide range of conditions, including cancer, heart disease, stroke, respiratory diseases, trauma, musculoskeletal diseases, and neurological conditions.
This development will provide diagnostic facilities at each of the three hospitals in Norfolk and Waveney, funded through an £85.9 million capital investment from the Department of Health and Social Care. Each centre will recruit additional staff, including radiographers, radiologists and support staff, to deliver scans and support patients.
The Norfolk and Norwich Hospitals Charity is also kindly supporting this project by pledging £1.6m for imaging equipment.
“As an ex-civil engineer this excites me. Our proximity to the Quadram Institute and being on the world-renowned Norwich Research Park tells you that we are building something world class here, using innovative design techniques to house the most up to date imaging equipment. But what excites me the most is that when fully operational we will be seeing up to 500 people a day,” said our Chair Tom Spink.
Dr Richard Goodwin, our Chief of Division for Clinical Support Services added: “Diagnostics plays a vital part in patient care and faster diagnosis. This exciting development will build on our existing imaging facilities by providing a dedicated outpatient imaging centre which will help reduce waiting times for patients and improve health outcomes.”
Leading the programme for the Norfolk and Waveney Integrated Care System (ICS), our Director of Strategy and Major Projects, Simon Hackwell, added: “The building of the Diagnostic Centres also demonstrates the increasing collaboration across the three hospitals in Norfolk and Waveney, and takes us closer to transforming imaging availability across the region as a whole.”
Construction partner Morgan Sindall is scheduled to complete the Diagnostic Centre by the end of 2024 with first patients seen in early 2025. The centre is located next to the Quadram Institute on Rosalind Franklyn Way, on the Norwich Research Park.
Alister Broadberry, area director for Morgan Sindall Construction in the Eastern Counties, said: “Bringing essential, specialist services closer to local communities is paramount in serving the area in which we operate, as new facilities such as Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital’s Diagnostic Centre will play a key role in supporting patients and healthcare staff in the rapid diagnosis of disease, relieving pressure on waiting times and hospital workloads. We are proud to be involved in such an important project.”
Background and notes:
- Further information regarding the investment in three new diagnostic centres at Norfolk and Waveney hospitals is available here:
- To find out more about the N&N Hospitals Charity please visit: nnhospitalscharity.org.uk
- The Imaging Appeal donation link is N&N Imaging Appeal – JustGiving