This milestone marks the completion of phase two of a three-phase project, representing a significant investment to enhance health services, particularly within the Dearne Valley area of South Yorkshire.
The CDC introduces a fully functional endoscopy suite to Montagu Hospital with training facilities, and multifunctional clinic rooms, including ultrasound. Additionally, the work initiated during phase one of the project will continue, with mobile units facilitating CT and MRI scanning within the Mexborough site.
The CDC has received funding of just under £25m received in total, of which £9m has been spent in the current phase of development.
Construction on the new endoscopy suite began in March 2023 and is located within the prominent ‘rotunda’ section of Montagu Hospital – the rounded area of the building above the Minor Injuries Unit on level 3.
This area was previously occupied by the Pain Clinic, which has been relocated to the vacant physiotherapy space, following its own refurbishment as part of the CDC investment.
Complimenting the most recent development, the third phase of the project is the Imaging Suite, which will be a new construction located to the rear of the site, and will scan around 250 patients a week.
It is hoped that in the future this will enable cardiac imaging and echocardiography.
At present, cardiac Imaging is not a service Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals provides, with patients having to be referred to Sheffield’s Northern General Hospital. By using MRI and CT technology, it is possible to diagnose a wide-range of heart conditions including coronary heart disease, valve disease, and cardiac tumours, this is planned to be live Autumn 2024.
The investment into Montagu also has the addition of The Mexborough Elective Orthopaedic Centre of Excellence, which will also open its doors in January 2024, following funding of over £15 million, bringing overall recent investment to the Montagu Hospital to over £40 million.
Debi Oxley, Lead Nurse for the CDC, expressed her enthusiasm about the upcoming facility, saying: “The Community Diagnostic Centre is a significant step toward improving healthcare accessibility and reducing health inequalities in our region. We aim to enhance care and minimize delays in diagnosis for patients across the South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw. This is a testament to our commitment to providing exceptional healthcare services to our community.
“The Community Diagnostic Centre at Mexborough will help to improve population health outcomes by providing the community with access to the services to diagnose health conditions earlier.
“As a Trust, we are dedicated to offering high-quality healthcare services within the Mexborough site, fostering a healthier and more equitable region. The Community Diagnostic Centre represents a significant leap forward in the pursuit of these goals, and we look forward to the opening of the service later this month.”
An official ribbon-cutting ceremony will take place in December.
