A NEW community diagnostic centre (CDC) in Andover will open its from 2023, the hospital trust which will run it has confirmed. 

Hampshire Hospitals Foundation Trust (HHFT) has received £5million for the new CDC in Andover, which Andover MP Kit Malthouse said will help thousands of local people access earlier diagnostic tests.

Plans for the centre, which will run seven days a week from Andover War Memorial Hospital, have been approved by the government. 

Trust chief executive Alex Whitfield said: “We are delighted to be investing millions of pounds into the care and services we provide from Andover War Memorial Hospital.

READ MORE: Government approves £5m funding for new diagnostic centre in Andover

“The Andover Community Diagnostic Centre (ACDC) will increase our diagnostic services outside of a busy acute hospital setting, allowing us to diagnose and treat patients faster and reduce waiting times. The centre will also help us to better train and support our expert staff to ensure we can deliver the best possible care to our community.

“I know I speak on behalf of the entire team when I say we are incredibly excited for the ACDC to open its doors from 2023, and are grateful to our maternity colleagues who are being temporarily relocated in order to allow this expansion.”

As part of the plans, the Andover Maternity Centre will move to a Maternity Hub creating a modernised setting for maternity teams to work in an improved birthing environment for families.

The new-look service will include developing an ultrasound hub for obstetric and non-obstetric ultrasound.

SEE ALSO: Delays in Hampshire police response to priority incidents involving children, report shows

Mr Malthouse previously said: “I’m really pleased that Andover is getting a one-stop shop for checks, scans and tests. It means GPs will now be able to refer patients to the new centre in the heart of our community, where they can have potentially lifesaving checks and earlier diagnosis by nurses and radiographers for a range of conditions without needing to have to travel further afield to Basingstoke or Winchester.”

The Department for Health and Social Care announced at the beginning of September plans to roll out 160 CDCs by 2025 to provide quicker diagnosis to patients as part of a £2.3 billion package of investment.