Building works on a new NHS diagnostic centre are nearing completion – with health staff speaking of their “excitement” after state-of-the-art equipment was installed.
The Tees Valley Community Diagnostic Centre in Stockton will open in the next few weeks, delivering tests for cancer, heart and lung disease.
The centre has recently taken delivery of a range of specialist equipment used to carry out these tests.
This includes two CT scanners, two MRI scanners, four ultrasound machines and a plain film room.
Chris McDonald, MP for Stockton North, joined chief executive Stacey Hunter and others from the health group – on a tour of the facility last week.
Simon Milburn, a radiologist and clinical lead for the centre, said during the visit: “This hub has changed an awful lot over the last three to four weeks since I was last here.
“I am currently standing in the one of the CT scan rooms. This is one of the two scanners we have here at the moment.
“We also have a two MRI scanners, four ultrasound machines and a plain film room on the ground floor. Upstairs we have a combination of cardiac and respiratory function tests. We also have phlebotomy and an assortment of consultation rooms.
“From my point of view it is very, very exciting to see paint on the wall and scanners in the rooms.
“As I have said before, this state-of-the-art facility is a once in a generation opportunity for our community in the Tees Valley and we hope patients who do come here for their tests will have the very best experience here.”
Steve Taylor, group director of estates at University Hospitals Tees, said: “Both the planning and delivery of this diagnostic centre has been a really fantastic example of health organisations and a local authority working very closely together to bring first-class facilities for the benefit of our community.
“Without Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council’s support the project could not have been delivered at the pace and the high quality we have seen.”
Chris McDonald said: “The vision of providing unified diagnostic services for our communities, north and south of the river, is becoming a reality. The first patients will soon receive diagnostic tests using the state-of-the-art equipment I have seen.
“Stockton Borough Council have driven this from the outset and delivering this game-changing project will make health care more accessible for people.
The centre, built by Kier, is based on the southern end of the former shopping centre site as part of a wider transformation of the high street led by Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council.
Stockton Waterfront will include an urban park with open, flexible spaces for community, large scale events for people of all ages to enjoy and an uninterrupted walk to the riverside from the High Street.
Dan Doherty, regional director for Kier Construction North & Scotland said: “We’re really proud of our work to deliver the Tees Valley Community Diagnostics Centre. This is yet another great example of how we are able to repurpose buildings into state-of-the-art healthcare facilities whilst also supporting the regeneration of local towns and cities.
“We know how important this new centre will be to staff and patients at University Hospitals Tees and I’m looking forward to seeing the building in operation, providing more access to diagnostic testing for the whole community.”
The centre will be run by University Hospitals Tees – formed of North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust and South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust – with the estates facilities managed by NTH Solutions LLP.
It will be supported by three ‘spoke’ diagnostic sites – two of them already in operation at the University Hospital of Hartlepool and Friarage Hospital in Northallerton and a new service at Redcar Primary Care Hospital set to open in the coming weeks following extensive refurbishment works over the last few months.
These sites will all provide services including CT scans, MRI scans, ultrasound, plain film, endoscopy tests and more.
For more information visit the diagnostic service page on the South Tees website.