Exciting progress is being made at the Plymouth Community Diagnostic Centre (CDC), which is now nearing completion. Around 120 contractors are currently on site, bringing the building to life as the final touches come together. Walls have been painted, flooring is in place, and digiclad artwork is being installed along the corridors, helping to create a bright, calm and welcoming environment for our patients. 

We recently reached a significant milestone with the delivery of major diagnostic equipment. Last week, two CT scanners arrived on site, including a specialist cardiac CT scanner. This week marked another key step forward with the safe delivery of the new MRI scanners. Moving equipment of this size and complexity takes real expertise, and it was remarkable to see so many skilled teams working seamlessly together. 

The delivery and installation were the result of a carefully coordinated effort involving local construction teams, crane operators and specialist equipment staff, all working together to ensure the scanners were safely manoeuvred into position inside the building. You can see this teamwork in action in our timelapse video, which captures 30 minutes of precise planning and movement in just a few seconds. 

Ross Thrope, Clinical Specialist Cardiac CT Radiographer said: “I am excited about the opening of the CDC and the opportunity to move our cardiac CT outpatient service into this new environment. Working with a state-of-the-art CT scanner will give high quality imaging and improve patient care. It also provides an increased opportunity to diagnose cardiovascular disease within the Plymouth population.” 

Vicki Laroche, Principal MRI Radiographer said: “Watching the high‑spec, specialist equipment being expertly lifted and ‘flying through the air’ into place was a truly magnificent sight and a clear reminder of how close we are to opening this fantastic new centre.  The CDC has been many years in development and the result of hard work from many different specialities and teams across the organisation. These scanners will enable us to offer a wider range of magnetic resonance imaging examinations to support cancer diagnosis, complex imaging needs, and an expanded cardiac service for patients within the community. We’re incredibly proud of the progress being made and grateful to everyone involved in creating this important new facility for our community.” 

When the centre opens to its first patients at the end of June, it will play a vital role in delivering faster, more accessible diagnostic tests closer to home for people across Plymouth and the surrounding area.  

The new centre will allow us to bring MRI and CT cardiac imaging, ultrasound, X-ray and other diagnostic specialties such as cardiology, audiology, and phlebotomy together under one roof, providing a comprehensive range of diagnostic tests at a community site within our city centre, delivering significant benefits to our patients.