New diagnostic centre will speed up care for patients
A brand new £25 million state-of-the-art NHS diagnostic centre is planned for Slough in 2025, and local people are invited to have their say on the proposals.
The new Slough community diagnostic centre (CDC) will be developed on an unused area of the Upton Hospital site as a new standalone facility. It follows national investment and is part of a network of facilities across the country to improve access to diagnostic tests and scans.
It will be open seven days a week, for 12 hours each day, and will provide a wide range of diagnostic services including MRI, CT, and ultrasound scans, and testing for lung and heart conditions, as well as blood tests and x-rays.
The centre, subject to necessary planning approvals, will be developed by Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust working closely with partners from across the wider Frimley health and care system. It will provide services to people living in Slough as well as wider communities in Windsor and East Berkshire.
The centre aims to improve people’s health outcomes – by enabling more people to access diagnostic tests more quickly, easily and closer to their home, leading to earlier diagnoses of symptoms and better, more timely treatment.
It will also help to reduce waiting lists by increasing capacity – the Slough CDC will double the current MRI and CT capacity in Slough and the surrounding areas
It 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.
Nigel Foster, who is leading the programme on behalf of Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust, said: “The centre is fantastic news for our local communities, and will mean that people who need more than one diagnostic procedure may have them on the same day. This will help to diagnose conditions and illnesses, including cancer, more quickly.
“Not only will the increased testing help to improve the health of the local population and meet the growing demand for diagnostic services, it will also help free up capacity at Wexham Park Hospital.”
Sangeeta Saran, Director of Operations, Slough NHS Frimley: “The new centre will play a vital role in enabling us to meet local people’s needs in the future and, crucially, mean they spend as little time as possible waiting for the diagnoses they need.”
The centre will also offer employment opportunities for local people, and Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust will be recruiting for clinical and non-clinical roles in the run-up to the centre opening.
The design of the new facility will take place in autumn 2023, with construction taking place (subject to necessary planning approvals) in 2024 and the opening planned for spring 2025.
Find out more and have your say
During late September and early October 2023, people will be able to give their views on aspects of the new CDC, to help ensure that the Trust’s planning application reflects the views and preferences of local communities.
People can find out more about our proposals for the new centre and have their say between 25 September and 8 October 2023, either online or at one of two dedicated drop-in events.
Drop-in events:
When: Wednesday 27 September 2023, 4pm to 7pm (drop in anytime)
Where: Garden Clinic Meeting Room, Upton Hospital, Albert Street, Slough, SL1 2BJ.
When: Thursday 28 September 2023, 10.30am to 1.30pm (drop in anytime)
Where: Boardroom, Upton Hospital, Albert Street, Slough, SL1 2BJ.
Free parking is available on site.
Have your say online:
From 25 September, people can find out more and have their say by visiting https://frimley.ntropydata.co.uk/sloughcdc. For more information, email the team at fhft.sloughcdc@nhs.net.
The feedback received during this period will inform the Trust’s planning application.
Slough CDC: FAQ
Why are we building a CDC?
Our new CDC is a national investment that is part of a network of facilities across the country to improve access to diagnostic tests and scans.
What services will it provide?
The CDC will provide a wide range of diagnostic services including MRI and CT scans, ultrasound, respiratory and cardiology testing.
What are the benefits of a new CDC?
The centre aims to improve people’s health outcomes – by enabling more people to access diagnostic tests more quickly, more easily and closer to their home, leading to earlier diagnoses of symptoms and better, more timely treatment.
Where will the CDC be built?
The new Slough community diagnostic centre will be developed on an unused area of the Upton Hospital site as a new standalone facility.
Is the site easily accessible to the public?
The site will be easily accessible with both pedestrian access from Slough town centre and vehicle access with car parking provided.
Who decided on the location?
An options appraisal was carried out in Slough considering a few options, but Upton Hospital was deemed the best as this is an existing healthcare facility in close proximity to the town centre with good public transport links.
What stage are you at in the process towards building this facility?
We are aiming to demolish the buildings on the site by early 2024.
We are currently working closely with our clinical and operational colleagues to plan and design the new facility. Construction will take place in 2024 with a planned opening set for Spring 2025.
Will Upton hospital be impacted during the building work?
We will endeavour to keep disruption to a minimum throughout the building works. Staff and people in the neighbouring area will be kept informed of any upcoming disruptive works and points of contact will be provided for both NHS Property Services and the contractor to report issues. All services will run as normal.
What measures will be put in place to protect staff, patients and the public from building works?
The site will be fully hoarded to restrict access to the construction area. There will also be a full health and safety plan implemented by the contractor to ensure all staff, patients and public are kept safe throughout.
Will there be any impact on parking at the site while the work takes place?
No, the works are taking place on an unused area of the Upton site.
Will the public have their say?
During late September and early October 2023, people will be able to give their views on aspects of the new CDC, to help ensure that the Trust’s planning application reflects the views and preferences of local communities.
People can find out more about our proposals for the new centre and have their say between 25 September and 8 October 2023, either online or at one of two dedicated drop-in events.
Will face to face events with the public be held?
Drop-in events:
When: Wednesday 27 September 2023, 4pm to 7pm (drop-in anytime)
Where: Garden Clinic Meeting Room, Upton Hospital, Albert Street, Slough, SL1 2BJ.
When: Thursday 28 September 2023, 10.30am to 1.30pm (drop-in anytime)
Where: Boardroom, Upton Hospital, Albert Street, Slough, SL1 2BJ.
How do I get involved and share my views?
From 25 September, people can find out more and have their say by visiting https://tinyurl.com/SloughCDC. For more information, email the team at fhft.sloughcdc@nhs.net.
How much has this cost?
£25m - and it is a part of a national investment and network of facilities across the country to improve access to diagnostic tests and scans.
Who will be running the CDC?
The development of the CDC at the Upton Hospital site in Slough, Berkshire, is being led by Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust. The Trust runs Frimley Park, Heatherwood, and Wexham Park hospitals, Farnham (community) Hospital and Heathlands Intermediate Care Unit as well as providing services from a number of other sites.