Eltham Community Diagnostic Centre officially opens
Bringing NHS services closer to home for south east Londoners
People in Greenwich have better access to services to diagnose medical conditions thanks to a £10m transformation of Eltham Community Hospital.
Eltham Community Diagnostic Centre (CDC) officially opened in the community hospital this week (14.5.25) and people are already benefitting from a host of diagnostic services including two new £1m CT and MRI scanners.
Care closer to home
Eltham was earmarked for investment for the flagship community-based diagnostics centre as part of the NHS move towards a new model of local healthcare which helps people get care closer to home where possible.
Gabi Darby, Chief Operating Officer for Greenwich at NHS South East London Integrated Care Board, said: “This is an exciting time for local people in the Eltham community, and across Greenwich, as they will be able to access high quality NHS diagnostic services faster, and closer to home.
“It’s just one of the ways we’re pivoting into a neighbourhood health service, moving traditional hospital services into local communities and providing early support to people to reduce the risk of more serious ill health.
“This joined up approach to supporting people both locally, and from across South East London, will help us to improve access, improve health outcomes and reduce health inequalities.”
Developed and operated by Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust, Eltham Community Diagnostic Centre is a fully operational facility with over 65 staff providing rapid, high-quality diagnostic NHS services. It is part of the national network of 170 CDCs.
The new CT and MRI scanners are each expected to carry out over 10,000 scans annually, operating daily from 8am to 8pm. Additional services include blood testing (serving up to 28,000 patients annually), ultrasound, updated X-ray facilities, cardiac testing, respiratory diagnostics, and an expanded tele-dermatology department, which has doubled in size due to its success.
Reducing waiting times
The centre aims to reduce waiting times, speed up diagnoses, and provide a convenient alternative to acute hospital settings, with easy access via public transport as well as being in the heart of Eltham’s developing town centre. GPs already have direct access to some diagnostic services (and there are two GP surgeries within the same building), with CT and MRI referrals expected to follow shortly.
Designed to be bright and welcoming, the centre supports both routine and precautionary testing, easing pressure on hospital-based services such as those at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Woolwich.
Local residents are already praising the new facility with comments such as: “Everyone’s attitude was very kind and helpful.”, “I am really pleased that the trust has invested in this resource.”, and “All staff were helpful and friendly and treated me with the utmost respect.”