Warrington and Halton Diagnostics Centre officially opens at Halton Hospital

A new multi-million pound diagnostics centre to help diagnose and treat a range of health conditions while improving waiting times for Warrington and Halton residents has opened its doors.

A ribbon cutting ceremony was held on Monday 16 June to mark the official opening of Warrington and Halton Diagnostics Centre at Halton Hospital. 

The purpose-built facility, located next to the existing Captain Sir Tom Moore Building, provides a modern space with state-of-the-art equipment to offer new MRI and CT services to more than 30,000 patients a year. 

The £11 million project is the final part of a three-phase £16 million Community Diagnostic Centre (CDC) programme, which has seen the refurbishment and modernisation of existing space in the Nightingale Building at Halton Hospital and the creation of the Halton Health Hub, based in Runcorn Shopping City. 

Since the launch of the programme Warrington and Halton Teaching Hospitals (WHH) has already delivered more than 90,000 additional diagnostic tests.

Nikhil Khashu, Chief Executive of WHH, told colleagues and invited guests, including the Mayor of Halton and local MPs: “I am delighted to officially open this fantastic new facility and mark the completion of the third phase of Warrington and Halton Diagnostics Centre. 

“Creating modern and accessible facilities like this not only supports us to see our patients quicker and improve access to vital diagnostic tests but also helps speed up the process of identifying a range of health conditions including heart and lung disease, and cancer. 

“By increasing our capacity we can place an even greater focus on early intervention, which is a crucial part of what we are trying to achieve in improving health and wellbeing for our communities.”

The event also marked a significant milestone as the one millionth patient to receive treatment at a CDC in Cheshire and Merseyside was seen on the day of the opening.

David Titchfield, from Lymm, attended for an MRI scan and was very impressed with the modern and well-equipped facility, praising the ‘caring, considerate and efficient’ staff.  

Ian Triplow, Cheshire and Merseyside Diagnostics Programme Director, said: “It has been great to see the opening of such a fantastic facility, which will help so many patients receive a more rapid diagnosis for many years to come. This builds on work happening throughout the Cheshire and Merseyside system, and it is to the credit of everyone involved. 

“One big milestone that I have been very proud to celebrate is that we were able to welcome the one millionth patient who has gone through a Cheshire and Merseyside CDC since July 2021. Well done to all the teams involved in getting us to this fantastic milestone.”

The facility features ground-breaking new technology, including an MRI scanner that utilises artificial intelligence (AI) technology to significantly reduce scan times – in some cases up to 70% – and a CT scanner that delivers up to 81% less radiation than older models, resulting in a quicker, safer and more comfortable patient experience.

Louise Shepherd CBE, North West Regional Director for NHS England, said: “It was a privilege to attend the opening of the new diagnostics centre which will support the residents of Warrington and Halton, and the wider Cheshire and Merseyside population.  

“Community Diagnostic Centres are key to offering patients vital tests closer to home, reducing the need for hospital appointments and utilising technology to speed up diagnosis. The Warrington and Halton Diagnostics Centre is a brilliant example of how this can be done. Well done to the team for the opening of this brilliant new facility.”

Sarah Morton, Regional Director for Kier Construction North & Scotland, the building contractor for the development, said: “We’re incredibly proud to have delivered the diagnostics centre at Halton Hospital, a project that directly supports the government’s ambition to improve early diagnosis and preventative healthcare.  

“Working closely with stakeholders across Warrington and Halton Teaching Hospitals, we’ve created a modern, efficient facility - integrating seamlessly onto the Halton Hospital site to provide vital diagnostic services. This project is a testament to what can be achieved through collaborative working and a shared commitment to enhancing patient outcomes.” 

The creation of CDCs was recommended by Prof Sir Mike Richards following a review of NHS diagnostics capacity and is part of the NHS Long Term Plan to improve out of hospital, elective healthcare.

Now fully operational across all three sites, the Warrington and Halton Diagnostics Centre enables WHH to carry out additional diagnostic tests and appointments in modern and accessible settings to improve the health and wellbeing of Warrington and Halton residents.