Community Diagnostic Centre Expansion Opens at Walton Hospital

The second phase of Walton Hospital’s Community Diagnostic Centre (CDC) is now complete, further enhancing access to diagnostic services for patients across North Derbyshire following a total of £12.7m investment in diagnostic facilities at the community hospital site.

The expansion marks another significant milestone in the partnership between Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (CRH) and Derbyshire Community Health Services NHS Foundation Trust (DCHS), building on the success of the purpose-built facility which first welcomed patients a year ago.

Walton Hospital’s CDC first opened its doors after a £5.2 million investment in September 2025. Just weeks later a further £7.5 million was granted by NHS England to enhance imaging facilities, including bringing CT and MRI scanning into a new extension to the building rather than being housed in mobile vans beside the diagnostic centre.

As well as introducing permanent MRI and CT facilities, phase 2 also introduces DEXA scanning and Children's Audiology services, creating a comprehensive community-based diagnostic hub and increasing capacity for thousands of patients each year.

An example of where this facility can help address one of the UK’s biggest health challenges can be found in the earlier detection and treatment of cardiovascular disease. More than 7.6 million people are living with, or affected by, heart and circulatory diseases across the UK, with approximately 170,000 lives claimed each year. Against this national backdrop, Walton CDC will give Derbyshire a new community-based capability for advanced cardiac CT, bringing specialist cardiac diagnostics much closer to home and providing a practical response to the growing cardiovascular disease burden.

The advanced technology offered from the Revolution Vibe CT scanner will mean that more examinations can potentially be undertaken with less and in some cases no pre-scan medication to control heart rate, alongside the ability to image the full heart in just 0.23 seconds. Drawing on experience from other NHS Trusts, this capability has demonstrated clinical and operational value and can support streamlined patient pathways, effective use of radiographer and reporting capacity, reduced reliance on routine medication and more sustainable use of NHS resources.

The development supports the NHS ambition to deliver more care closer to home, making health services more accessible, convenient and responsive for local people, while helping to reduce pressure on busy acute hospital sites.

Since opening last year, the Walton CDC has transformed how many patients access diagnostic services. The centre has enabled faster access to tests and investigations, while supporting innovative community-based pathways including liver screening, breathlessness services, children's asthma pathways and urology one-stop clinics.

Many patients have also benefited from being able to receive multiple tests during a single visit, helping to reduce unnecessary travel and supporting quicker diagnosis and treatment.

Importantly, the CDC has already delivered measurable improvements for patients. Over the past year, the facility has contributed to Chesterfield Royal Hospital becoming one of the most improved trusts in the country for reducing the proportion of patients waiting more than six weeks for a diagnostic test.

Jackie Smith, Chair of Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, said:

"The opening of Phase 2 of our Community Diagnostic Centre is a fantastic achievement and a testament to the strength of partnership working across our local health system.

"In just one year, this facility has already made a significant difference for patients, providing faster access to essential diagnostic tests and helping people receive answers sooner.

"The addition of permanent MRI and CT services, alongside DEXA scanning and Children's Audiology, further strengthens our ability to diagnose conditions earlier, begin treatment sooner and improve outcomes for the communities we serve.

"I would like to thank everyone involved in bringing this project to life, including our colleagues at Derbyshire Community Health Services, GE Healthcare and the many teams whose hard work and dedication have helped make Walton CDC such a success."

Jim Austin, Chief Executive of Derbyshire Community Health Services NHS Foundation Trust, which runs Walton Hospital, said: “This is a fantastic development for patients who can now access a wider range of sophisticated diagnostic tests at Walton Hospital. The community diagnostic centre is easy to find from the car park and patients can park for free while they go in for their tests. It really is making patient care more accessible for people in Chesterfield.  

“This is one of three community diagnostic centres located in our Derbyshire community hospitals, bringing high-tech facilities into the heart of local communities.  Other diagnostic centres are located at Whitworth Hospital in Darley Dale and at Ilkeston Community Hospital. These developments are being made possible through our partnership working with Chesterfield Royal Hospital and University Hospitals of Derby and Burton. It is enabling us to extend the scope of what’s available to patients locally across Derbyshire and in line with the NHS 10-year plan to focus more care in community settings and expand digital capabilities in providing quicker, easier diagnostic tests for people.” 

Minister for Health Innovation, James Frith, said:

"I was delighted to open the new wing at Walton CDC this week. In its first year, the CDC has already delivered over 71,000 tests, and this extension, complete with brand new diagnostic machines, will create even more capacity to make sure people in Chesterfield can get the care they need, closer to home.

"Community diagnostic centres like Walton are helping cut NHS waiting lists - down by almost 300,000 since July 2024 - and we're extending opening times so people have more convenient access to care. As we head into winter, Walton's CDC will also help take pressure off local hospitals, so the NHS is there for everyone who needs it."

Bhavesh Barot, GE Healthcare General Manager for Northern Europe, added:

“We are proud to collaborate with Walton Hospital in expanding access to advanced diagnostic services across North Derbyshire. Through technologies such as Revolution Vibe CT, we aim to help clinicians deliver high-quality care efficiently while supporting the NHS ambition to improve patient outcomes, increase diagnostic capacity and reduce waiting times. This collaboration demonstrates how innovation, partnership and a shared commitment to patient-centred care can help transform the healthcare experience for local communities.”

The new MRI and CT scanners supplied by GE Healthcare replace temporary mobile facilities previously operating on site, providing patients with access to state-of-the-art diagnostic technology in a permanent, purpose-designed environment.

The expansion also creates opportunities for additional innovative diagnostic pathways in the future, supporting both organisations' commitment to delivering high-quality, joined-up care within local communities.

The Walton CDC forms part of a wider network of Community Diagnostic Centres across Derbyshire. Alongside the CDC at Whitworth Hospital in Matlock, the facility is helping to transform access to diagnostic services and improve patient experiences across North Derbyshire.