A NEW diagnostic centre under construction in Coventry city centre is set to ‘revolutionise patient access and speed up life-saving tests’, the local NHS Trust has said.
Work has begun on a new Community Diagnostic Centre (CDC) which aims to give earlier diagnosis of conditions such as cancer and heart disease, and offer tests closer to home for city residents.
The facility will provide closer access to diagnostic services, with patients able to receive multiple tests in a single visit, reducing waiting times and enabling faster treatment.
A ground-breaking ceremony marked the start of works on the multi-million-pound development, which will transform the NHS Paybody Building into a dedicated CDC located on the City of Coventry Health Centre site.
Once complete, the CDC will be open Monday to Friday, reducing the need for patients to travel to hospital for diagnostic tests.
Opening late 2026, the centre is expected to see about 90,000 patients annually and provide up to 75,000 additional patient tests a year.
Professor Andy Hardy, Chief Executive Officer of University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire (UHCW) NHS Trust, said: “The start of the development of the CDC is a major milestone for healthcare in Coventry, completely transforming the way local communities access tests and scans and receive diagnosis for a range of conditions.
“It will support communities across the city to live longer, happier lives.
“This activity forms part of our wider commitment to improving health inequalities and ensuring that everyone has easy access to the care they need.”
The CDC will feature state-of-the-art equipment including MRI and CT scanners, X-ray facilities, ultrasound rooms, respiratory and cardiac diagnostic services, hysteroscopy and capacity to support cancer diagnostic pathways.
Melvin Henry, Regional Capital Programme Manager at NHS Property Services, said: “NHS Property Services is focused on delivering a better NHS estate that is fit for the future by investing in and refurbishing buildings where our NHS colleagues can deliver excellent patient care.”
The centre will be staffed by a multi-disciplinary team including Radiologists, Radiographers, Sonographers and Healthcare Scientists as well as a team of administrative and support staff who will be offering a seven-day service for some tests.
Completion of the project will also make Coventry University the first higher education institution co-located within an NHS CDC.
The university will deliver teaching, clinical placements and research alongside UHCW to support improved access to life-saving tests and tackle health inequalities.
Professor John Latham CBE, Vice-Chancellor of Coventry University, said: “By combining education, research, and innovation with frontline healthcare, we aim to improve patient outcomes and develop the future NHS workforce.
“This collaboration will make access to vital tests easier for local people while giving students invaluable hands-on experience.”
