First patients received at Leigh’s new Community Diagnostic Centre

History was made at Leigh Infirmary as Wrightington Wigan and Leigh Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust delivered the first Magnetic Resonance (MR) imaging and Computerised Tomography (CT) scans at the site.

Having received delivery of the brand-new state of the art equipment, the Trust is now able to offer both diagnostic procedures at Leigh Infirmary – something that had previously only been able to be delivered at the Royal Albert Edward Infirmary and Wrightington Hospital.

Christine Rostron from Leigh was the first patient to arrive at the Infirmary’s new Community Diagnostic Centre’s Radiology Department and commented how vital it is for such diagnostic facilities to be made available locally at Leigh.

Christine said: “I have to have regular CTs due to my health conditions and I’m really happy that there are now these facilities at Leigh. It was a bit of journey previously to go over to the Wigan site and having this so local will make a massive difference to people living in Leigh.”

Work began on the Trust’s new £10m Community Diagnostic Centre (CDC) and £7.9m laminar-flow theatre with recovery area a little over a year ago.

The CDC is part of a national programme to increase access to key diagnostic tests and increase capacity across a range of investigative procedures such as MRI, CT, X-ray, ultrasound, electrocardiogram (ECG/ECHO) heart monitoring tests/scans, blood pressure and heart monitoring, lung function, sleep studies and phlebotomy. The new laminar-flow theatre will provide modernised facilities within the theatre complex and will also enable other specialties to increase utilisation of existing capacity with longer opening hours of support services on site.

Also attending the new radiology department was Graham Wood from Astley, who was one of the first patients to experience the new MR equipment.

Graham, who also has to have regular scans, said: “It’s marvellous being able to come to Leigh to have my scans, it was much quicker for us to get here, and my wife was able to park up easily so it really did take the stress away for us both. Everyone has been looking after me and the space is so bright, it’s wonderful.”

Lee Unsworth, Directorate Manager for Radiology, Cancer Services & Pathology, said: “Seeing the new area live and the quality of the build, the gift of space and the brand-new equipment is just incredible.

“It is testament to the ethos of WWL staff that so many teams have worked together to make all of this positive and a big thank you to everyone for their hard work and support.”

Mary Fleming, WWL’s Deputy Chief Executive, said: “The opening of the new radiology department is a very exiting step in our journey to bring a modern ‘one stop shop’ diagnostics and healthcare facility to Leigh.

“The CDC will support faster diagnosis and treatment, which is fantastic news for our patients, and will support our aim to become a premier centre for rehabilitation, diagnostics and outpatient services.”

“As more areas and departments are due to be opened throughout the coming weeks, we would like to thank patients attending the new areas for their patience and support while this work continues.”