New Wirral Diagnostics Centre

A new Wirral Diagnostics Centre has opened to enable earlier diagnosis of illnesses such as prostate cancer.

The state of the art facility, run by Wirral University Teaching Hospital, has brand new MRI and CT scanners, alongside facilities to further enhance privacy and comfort for patients having scans.

The up-to-date software allows the MRI equipment to produce high quality scan images at a fast speed, to improve detection of conditions such as prostate cancer. As well as scanning for different types of cancers, diagnostics for a wide range of conditions will be carried out at Wirral Diagnostics Centre.

This is the second diagnostics centre to be built at the Clatterbridge site. Clatterbridge Diagnostics Centre was set up in July 2021 as a partnership between Wirral University Teaching Hospital and The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre and was one of the first diagnostics hubs set up in England to reduce NHS waiting times and increase capacity for early diagnosis. Since then more than 100,000 patients have had tests or scans at the centre.

Wirral Diagnostics Centre further expands this capability, providing detection for more complex conditions. As the centre is situated away from a busy Arrowe Park site, not only do patients benefit from quicker tests and a comfortable experience, there is also less risk of cancellations.  

Janelle Holmes, Chief Executive at Wirral University Teaching Hospital, said: “This is a fantastic new facility that will benefit many patients. It will enable patients to be diagnosed quicker and in a really comfortable environment at the Clatterbridge site.

“We are extremely proud of everything that has been achieved with the first diagnostics centre at Clatterbridge and we want to continue that success with the second facility.”

In the past ten years the demand for CT scans at the Trust has increased by 65% and the demand for MRI scans has increased by 13%.

Liz Bishop, Senior Responsible Officer for Diagnostics in Cheshire and Merseyside and Chief Executive of The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre, said: “Our Community Diagnostic Centre programme has made a significant difference in tackling health inequalities and supporting our patients across Cheshire and Merseyside by providing better access to diagnostic testing and ensuring that patients are seen quicker, closer to home.

“Not only will the new Wirral Diagnostics Centre help to provide quicker access to tests but the whole centre has been designed around improving the patient experience with the aim of providing patients with a more comfortable and dignified place to be tested.”

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Photo captions:

Radiographers Jessica Vaughan Roberts and Annie Murambiwa next to a new CT scanner at Wirral Diagnostics Centre.

Radiographer Annie Murambiwa with a new CT scanner at Wirral Diagnostics Centre.