Community Diagnostic Centres (CDCs) allow patients to access a broad range of planned diagnostics (including checks, scans and tests) nearer to home without the need to attend acute hospital sites. These centres provide hundreds of additional diagnostic tests annually, easing hospital pressure and offering patients quicker, more convenient access to testing.
Patients can attend appointments for Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and Computed Tomography (CT) scans, blood tests (phlebotomy), ultrasounds (non-obstetric), Electrocardiograms, ophthalmological testing (glaucoma and medical retina diagnostics), testing for microvascular disorders, x-rays and respiratory testing.
In The Black Country we have received funding to establish four NHS CDCs run by our local NHS providers. These are located at the following sites:
The Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust
- Dudley Guest Hospital - opened in August 2022 and offers:
- Computed Tomography (CT) scanning
- Non-Obstetric ultrasounds
- Phlebotomy
- Plain film x-ray
- Dudley Corbett Hospital- opened in October 2021 and offers:
- Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring
- Computed Tomography (CT) scanning
- Bone density scanning
- Ambulatory electrocardiogram monitoring
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
- Non-obstetric ultrasounds
- Phlebotomy
- Plain film x-ray
- Skin lesion imaging (including Dermoscopy)
- Transthoracic echocardiogram
- Dudley Merryhill Shopping Centre - opened in December 2023 and offers:
- Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring
- Ambulatory electrocardiogram monitoring
- Non-obstetric ultrasounds
- Phlebotomy
The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust
- Cannock Chase Hospital - opened in July 2021 and offers:
- Blood gas assessment
- Carbon monoxide monitoring
- Computed Tomography (CT) scanning
- Electrocardiogram monitoring
- Fractional Exhaled Nitric Oxide tests
- Field exercise tests
- Ambulatory electrocardiogram monitoring
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
- Non-obstetric ultrasounds
- Oximetry
- Phlebotomy
- Plain Film X-ray
- Respiratory physiology (sleep studies)
- Spirometry (with or without a bronchodilator response test)
- Transthoracic echocardiogram
Early diagnosis and treatment are key to reducing preventable death, particularly from cancer, cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. The CDCs will help people to be diagnosed earlier and have more access to diagnostics closer to home.
A clinician's referral is required to attend the CDCs.
