‘Landmark’ NHS testing facility coming to Oldham

The 10,742 sq ft Oldham Community Diagnostic Centre will be located at Salmon Fields and provide early cancer and cardio-respiratory disease diagnosis opportunities for more than 30,000 patients.

Oldham Council is teaming up with the Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation trust on the project, granting a 50-year lease to the healthcare institution.

Describing the future building as “a landmark NHS diagnostics centre,” a release about the project said that in addition to providing early diagnosis chances, the centre would reduce the number of hospital visits in the area, provide shorter waiting times and more convenient access for patients and that it would allow for those seeking care to receive multiple tests on the same day at the same place.

The scheme incudes a modular complex with reception area, consultation and examination rooms and offices. There would also be PET CT scanning units, an MRI scanner and x-ray facilities.

Plans, which were approved on 10 December, include 61 parking spaces. Of those spaces, six would be allocated for electric vehicle charging and three designated accessible.

Work on the 5.7-acre site is expected to begin in January, with the centre opening to patients in the spring of 2022. Salmon Fields was selected as the site in October.

“We are proud to be working alongside NCA on this important centre which will play a huge role in our local community,” said Oldham Council leader Cllr Arooj Shah.

“It will bring a first-class health facility to Oldham – giving people across the region convenient access to care with earlier diagnosis and shorter waiting times,” she continued.

“The site is flexible to accommodate the future expansion of services and will help to create a wide range of quality jobs and training opportunities. It’s a win-win for all involved.”

Oldham’s cabinet member for health and social care, Cllr Zahid Chauhan, said that his experience at a GP had shown him the importance of an early diagnosis.

“This site will save lives and we are delighted to have it on our doorstep,” he said.

NCA director of planning and delivery, Barney Schofield, said: “The Oldham Community Diagnostic Centre will be one of the first, and best, in the country and will bring advanced diagnostic imaging technology into the heart of the community.

“It is a great example of what can be achieved by the NHS working in close partnership with the local authority to deliver a shared vision,” he continued. “Ultimately our ambition is to diagnose disease at an earlier stage of progression, where chances of successful treatment are improved.”

Arup was the planning consultant for the project, which was designed by Day Architectural.

The development team also included service engineer DSSR, civil and structural engineer CCS, flood risk and drainage expert CSC Consulting, biodiversity consultant Cameron S Crook and Associates, highways consultant Mosodi and trees expert Appletons.

Day also acted as quantity surveyors and project manager on the scheme.

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