A major new NHS facility helping people across Somerset access faster diagnostic tests closer to home has been officially opened this week.
The £17.8 million Bridgwater Diagnostic Centre welcomed guests on Tuesday 18 August to celebrate the completion of the state-of-the-art building, located alongside Bridgwater Community Hospital.
The community diagnostic centre is possible thanks to government investment to expand community diagnostic centres across England and the trust received £17.8 million from NHS England.
Health Minister Karin Smyth said: “This government has got the NHS on the road to recovery, with waiting lists down by almost 350,000 compared with June 2024, and a record 30.2 million diagnostic tests and scans carried out in the last year, but there’s still a lot more to do.
“The NHS should fit around people’s lives, not the other way around. This brand-new, state-of-the-art centre for Bridgwater is going to offer convenient tests, checks and scans, without a trip to hospital.
“Community Diagnostic Centres like this one are a vital part of how we’re rebuilding the NHS and getting people seen on time again. More of these will soon be opening across the country through our £237 million investment in new, expanded and enhanced centres just like this.”
Martin Wilkinson, director of performance and delivery at NHS England South West, said: “It is great that this latest community diagnostic centre (CDC) in Bridgwater is now open, offering a range of diagnostics closer to home for many people in Somerset.
“We have worked hard with providers and integrated care boards across the region over the past few years to build CDCs across the south west so that people can get an earlier diagnosis and reduce waiting lists.”
The centre was developed by Somerset NHS Foundation Trust as part of its long-standing managed service partnership with Ergéa UK, and forms part of a national programme to increase diagnostic capacity, support earlier diagnosis and reduce waiting times for patients.
Offering MRI and CT capacity, as well as Somerset’s first urology investigation unit, the centre is expected to provide almost 25,000 additional scans every year for people across Bridgwater and the wider Somerset area.
Guests attending the event included colleagues who helped develop the project, healthcare partners and local stakeholders, who were given the opportunity to tour the facility and see first-hand how it will improve access to diagnostic care.
Adam Turner, head of imaging at Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, said: “This week marks an important milestone for healthcare in Somerset and it’s fantastic to officially open Bridgwater Diagnostic Centre.
“Aligned with one of the NHS’s key shifts, to move care from hospital to community, this facility will help us provide faster access to vital diagnostic tests, support earlier diagnosis, and make it easier for patients to be cared for closer to home.
“The centre has been designed around the needs of patients, providing high-quality facilities, the latest diagnostic technology and a modern environment that offers an excellent experience for those using our services.
“It is also helping us free-up capacity across our two acute hospitals in Somerset, supporting better care for inpatients.”
The development builds on the success of Somerset’s community diagnostic centre programme, which began with the opening of a diagnostic centre in Taunton in 2021 and has since expanded across the county, including the opening of the Yeovil Diagnostic Centre earlier this year.
Adam added: “This has been a hugely collaborative project, and I would like to thank everyone involved in helping bring it to life, from our own colleagues and clinical teams, through to our partners at Ergéa and Actiform.
“Their shared commitment has helped create a facility that will benefit patients across Bridgwater and wider Somerset for many years to come.”
The centre will also play a wider role in improving access to planned care services outside of traditional hospital settings.
Later this year, Somerset NHS Foundation Trust will open a dedicated urology investigations unit within the building, bringing together a range of outpatient appointments, tests and procedures in one purpose-designed environment.
The development will help many patients access more joined-up care and reduce the need to attend multiple appointments across different hospital sites.
David Craig, Somerset NHS Foundation Trust’s programme director for Somerset Community Diagnostic Centres, said: “From securing approval for the project through to welcoming our first patients, this has been an exciting journey.
“The centre represents a significant investment in the future of healthcare in Somerset and will help ensure local people can access the diagnostic tests they need more quickly, more conveniently and closer to home.”
The Bridgwater Diagnostic Centre is one of a number of investments being made by Somerset NHS Foundation Trust to improve access to diagnostics, support earlier diagnosis and provide high-quality care in modern facilities across the county.
Mark Graves, Ergéa UK CEO, said: “The Bridgwater Community Diagnostic Centre is a powerful example of what can be achieved through genuine partnership. Since 2017, Ergéa UK and Somerset NHS Foundation Trust have worked together to modernise diagnostic services across the county, and this new £17.8 million facility marks an important next chapter in that relationship.
“From developing the initial scope and business case through to shaping the equipment strategy and delivering the completed centre, our teams have worked with a shared purpose throughout.
“Transforming an empty site into a fully equipped diagnostic centre in less than a year is a remarkable achievement, but what matters most is the difference it will make for patients, providing greater access to diagnostic services, closer to home. I am immensely proud of what our partnership has delivered and grateful to everyone who helped bring this shared vision to life.”
Stefan Dransfield, managing director, Actiform, said: “It is fantastic to see the Bridgwater Community Diagnostic Centre officially opening its doors and reaching this important milestone. This project demonstrates what can be achieved when modern methods of construction (MMC) are combined with strong collaboration and a shared commitment to delivering high-quality healthcare facilities.
“The use of MMC has been instrumental in accelerating the delivery of the project, allowing key stages of construction to progress in parallel and significantly reducing the time from initial concept to a fully operational healthcare facility without compromising on quality, standards, finishes or building performance.
“We are incredibly proud to have worked alongside Ergéa, Somerset NHS Foundation Trust and all the partners involved to bring this facility to life. The collaboration and commitment demonstrated throughout the project have been key to its success.”
