The Community Diagnostic Centre (CDC) programme at Rochester Healthy Living Centre (RHLC) in Medway, Kent is progressing well, with the recent completion of its feasibility study.
The new CDC programme in Kent will provide the provision of imaging, physiological measurement and pathology tests and scans across two sites which will deliver significant additional diagnostic capacity in the system, which will help to support the Covid-19 recovery plans as well as future growth in demand.
Current diagnostic provision in Medway and Swale is largely provided by Medway NHS Foundation Trust (MFT) at the local acute hospital site. The plans put forward by Kent and Medway ICB to establish a hub and spoke model across two sites in the Medway and neighbouring Swale locality, will help alleviate some of the pressures the hospital is currently facing.
A hub will be based at the neighbouring Sheppey Community Hospital – a NHS PS owned facility, with the spoke being at RHLC – a CHP owned facility.
With both sites, RHLC and Sheppey Community Hospital being in proximity, the two sites will complement one another to provide a range of diagnostic services for patients requiring multiple diagnostic testing which will help reduce hospital visits.
The increased diagnostic provision in the community will make the most out of the existing NHS estates and improve patient access.
The scheme will also reduce long term void space, whilst meeting the objective of increased utilisation of the LIFT estate. The new CDC will also help cement the building as a “core” NHS asset.
The building is set across three floors, with a small percentage of void and bookable space. The variation will remove the void from 3% to a 0% level.
The proposed development will deliver a standard model via the refurbishment of existing space in a community facility. The Rochester CDC will be delivered in two phases.
Phase One will involve the purchase of ultrasound machines, Echo machine, Dex, FeNO, ECG Machine and Dopplers pulmonary function equipment.
Phase Two will include:
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- The procurement of an external CT and MRI Scanner.
- Internal space which will be converted to accommodate a new MRI scanner
- Development of new space that will house a CT mobile unit located away from the main health facility
- An upgrade of existing power pads to accommodate diagnostic services
- Current void or bookable rooms to be reconfigured into clinical space to support the CDC provision.
The CDC will be hosted by Medway Foundation Trust with CHP and LIFTCo partner Medway Community Estates, providing project support and guidance.
Physiological measurement services are due to go live in Spring 2023, with Financial Close set to be reached this summer.
Find out more about delivering a Community Diagnostic Centre in an existing core asset.
Contact the CHP CDC team.
