How we are run
The Slough Community Diagnostic Centre (CDC) is set to transform access to vital tests and scans for people living in and around Slough.
The CDC is being built at Upton Hospital and will provide modern MRI, CT, ultrasound, respiratory and cardiology testing for local residents. This £25 million investment is designed to help people get quicker diagnoses, reduce hospital visits, and tackle health inequalities in the community.
We listened to the views of local people, staff, patients and community groups throughout late 2023. Their feedback led to changes in our plans and made sure the new centre meets the needs of everyone in Slough. Planning permission for the CDC was granted in March 2024, and after our trust board agreed the business case, construction began on site later that year.
Work is well underway, but like many new NHS buildings, the project has faced some national supply chain and building delays. Because of this, we expect to open the new centre in spring 2026. Our priority is to make sure the building, equipment and staff are ready so patients get safe, high-quality care from the first day.
Even before the new centre opens, improvements in diagnostic services are already being made at Upton Hospital. This means local people can benefit from better pathways and more tests while we finish building the CDC. Recruitment for new staff is also underway, and we’re working closely with community groups, local GPs and partner organisations to prepare for opening.
The CDC will offer up to 150,000 extra diagnostic tests every year, running seven days a week for twelve hours each day. It will help reduce waiting times for life-saving tests, support earlier diagnosis for conditions like cancer and heart disease, and relieve pressure on Wexham Park Hospital and GP practices.
We are committed to honest and open communication and updates on the project will be provided regularly, with opportunities for the public to visit, ask questions, and get involved.
We are working to make sure that the CDC reflects the diversity and needs of Slough’s communities and that everyone feels welcome and included.
Benefits for Slough
The CDC will have access to 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.
The centre will also:
- Help to reduce health inequalities – by locating the CDC in central Slough there will be an opportunity for communities who have poorer health outcomes to easily access high quality diagnostic tests.
- Help people avoid unnecessary hospital visits – increasing diagnostic capacity outside of acute hospitals means that they can focus on delivering urgent and emergency care more quickly for those who need it.
- Be easily accessible by public transport, minimising inconvenience for patients and reducing air pollution caused by travel.
