Diagnostic centre set for £20m expansion

A NHS diagnostic centre, which allows patients to be seen away from major hospital sites, is to expand.

The centre, which runs out of Seacroft Hospital in Leeds, has received £20m of national funding to increase access to tests for patients across the city.

The work will see two new MRI scanners introduced, further blood test services and more treatment rooms, according to Leeds Teachings Hospitals NHS Trust, who run the site.

Construction is due to begin in January 2027, if planning permission is obtained, and services at the current Community Diagnostic Centre (CDC) will be maintained during construction.

Craige Richardson, deputy chief executive at the trust said the plans would enable patients to get "faster answers" regarding conditions such as cancer, heart and lung disease.

"The extended centre will provide tens of thousands of extra diagnostic tests each year [and] will bring more care closer to home, particularly benefiting communities in Leeds where health needs are greatest," he said.

The CDC at Seacroft is one of three diagnostic centres across Leeds, which includes Armley and Beeston.

A statement from Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust said CDCs avoid the need for patients to travel into the city's larger hospitals for tests - reducing pressure on major hospitals and wait times for patients.

Residents are being encouraged to submit their thoughts on the proposals online ahead of a planning application being lodged.

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