The new Community Diagnostic Centre (CDC) at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals (NNUH) has been officially opened by HM Lord-Lieutenant of Norfolk, the Lady Dannatt MBE.
Lady Dannatt was given a tour of the new patient-centred unit, which is situated away from the main hospital next to the Quadram Institute on the Norwich Research Park.
The centre has been receiving patients since February and was built as part of a programme to deliver CDCs at each of the three acute hospitals in Norfolk and Waveney. The new imaging facility features MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) scanners, CT (Computed Tomography) scanners, Ultrasound and X-ray rooms. It will be open seven days a week and at full capacity can accommodate 430 patients a day.
‘A fantastic facility’
CEO of the hospital Lesley Dwyer said: “We’re delighted to see our new Community Diagnostic Centre up and running.
“It is such a fantastic facility and it is an absolute triumph for the people who have all worked so hard to bring this to completion. We now look forward to seeing approximately 220,000 patients a year, across the three centres.
“These facilities will help to significantly speed up diagnosis times for people with a range of health conditions, including some cancers.”
NNUH CDC clinical lead and Consultant Radiologist Rayhaan Rahaman said: “These three centres will allow Norfolk and Waveney hospitals to support each other where necessary by sharing scanner and reporting capacity.
“It highlights the real impact these centres will have on the health and wellbeing of our community.”
An ambitious programme
After unveiling a commemorative plaque, Lady Dannatt, MBE, said: “It is my great pleasure to be here today to officially open the CDC, the final piece in an ambitious programme to deliver state-of-the-art diagnostics at each of the three hospitals in Norfolk and Waveney.
“This is such a wonderful facility and will undoubtedly lead to better health outcomes and improved patient experiences for which everyone in Norfolk and Waveney is truly grateful.”
NNUH Chair Tom Spink said: “It was a pleasure to welcome Lady Dannatt to open the CDC for us and to show her what a great facility this is.
“And with it being located on the Norwich Research Park, a centre of excellence in healthcare, research, innovation and advancement, it clearly demonstrates the partnership between the hospital and its commitment to ongoing research.”
