Plans for a new £25million NHS diagnostic centre have been given the green light.

Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust has received planning approval to begin work on a brand new state-of-the-art NHS diagnostic centre.

Planning has been granted by Slough Borough Council and the Final Business Case (FBC) has been approved by the Trust’s Board, both subject to conditions. 

With the health trust now getting ready to begin construction, it has been revealed that the Community Diagnostic Centre (CDC) is planned to open in Slough in early 2025.

It is hoped it will "transform health services in the area with faster and easier diagnostic services for local people". 

The centre will be open seven days a week, 12 hours a day, and will provide up to 150,000 extra tests per year for the community.

The service will boast the latest technology with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanners, computerised tomography (CT) scanners and ultrasounds, and will diagnose and improve outcomes for patients with conditions including cancer and heart disease.

Its position in central Slough will open opportunities for communities who have poorer health outcomes to easily access high-quality diagnostic tests and help people avoid unnecessary hospital visits.

The diagnostic centre will be easily accessible by public transport, minimising inconvenience for patients.

James Clarke, Chief Strategy Officer, and leading the project on behalf of Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust said “This centre will greatly benefit the community by offering convenient access to diagnostic tests, reducing hospital visits and enabling early detection and treatment of serious illnesses.

"Its services will enhance local health and support our longer-term strategy of reducing pressure and improving services at our main hospitals”.

Leader of Slough Borough Council, Councillor Smith added: “I welcome the approval of the Community Diagnostic Centre (CDC) at Upton Hospital.

"The health inequalities in Slough are well documented, and I am confident that the proposed CDC will have a positive impact in contributing to reducing the health inequalities in the town; improving overall health outcomes and delivering a better, more personalised, diagnostic experience for patients.”

The centre is being developed on an unused and recently demolished area of the Upton Hospital site as a new standalone facility following national investment and is part of a network of facilities across the country to improve access to diagnostic tests and scans.

It will be accessible for all patients and is approximately a 10-minute walk from Slough railway station, with the nearest bus stops a short five-minute walk away. A car park will also be available on the site.