One million milestone: CDCs transform diagnostics in Cheshire and Merseyside
Friday, 27 June 2025
The Cheshire and Merseyside Diagnostic Programme, part of the Cheshire and Merseyside Provider Collaborative (CMPC), has hit a major milestone in their Community Diagnostic Centre (CDC) programme by welcoming the millionth patient to receive a test in one of the 10 CDCs in Cheshire and Merseyside.
David Titchfield, from Lymm, was the millionth patient to be treated at a CDC in Cheshire and Merseyside after he attended the Warrington and Halton Diagnostics Centre on Monday 16 June.
David visited the centre for an MRI scan after going to his GP with prostate concerns. The new facility meant he was seen within 10 days of the referral, helping to provide him with an earlier diagnosis and treatment, if needed.
When asked about his experience, he said:
“I can’t thank the NHS enough. It was my first time at the new facility, and it immediately strikes you as very modern, well-equipped, and with very good staff. Everybody that I’ve dealt with has been very caring, considerate and extremely efficient.”
Since the first Cheshire and Merseyside CDC opened in July of 2021, a total of 10 CDCs have been introduced across the region, helping to reduce waiting times and bring diagnostic testing to more convenient and accessible locations.
This year Cheshire and Merseyside CDCs are expected to deliver testing for nearly half a million patients as we continue to offer more testing options and locations, including the most recent addition to the CDC family, the Warrington and Halton CDC which officially opened on 16 June 2025.
The new Warrington and Halton CDC will offer MRI and CT services to more than 30,000 patients a year in its convenient location next to the Captain Sir Tom Moore Building at Warrington and Halton NHS Foundation Trust. CDCs across Cheshire and Merseyside are located in a range of facilities including local Trusts, shopping centres, and re-purposed health centres which allows for several options for patients who require diagnostic testing.
Each CDC can provide a range of diagnostic tests across endoscopy, imaging, physiological measurements, pathology, dermatology to name a few, and often patients will be able to have multiple tests during one visit to improve speed of diagnosis and convenience.
Over 250 new jobs have been created in our local CDCs allowing for better opportunities for staff rotation, training, and development as well as allowing services to develop new services and ways of testing such as straight-to-test facilities for primary care to refer into.
Rob Cooper, Senior Responsible Officer, Cheshire and Merseyside Diagnostics, said:
“The additional capacity provided by the CDC in Warrington and Halton will make a significant contribution to achieving our collective mission to ensure the people of Cheshire and Merseyside receive faster, more accessible, diagnostic testing. This new facility is testament to the hard work of all the teams involved who came together in a truly collaborative effort to get it open and ready for patients.
“It was a great honour to welcome the millionth patient to our newest CDC, what an amazing accomplishment to have been able to support so many patients in our CDCs over the last 3 years. Congratulations to all colleagues involved in getting to this point and here’s to the next million.”
Professor Rowan Pritchard Jones, Medical Director for NHS Cheshire and Merseyside, said:
“Early, accurate diagnosis drives improved treatment and outcomes, which is why the rollout of Community Diagnostic Centres has been transformational for patients across Cheshire and Merseyside. By bringing diagnostic services closer to where people live, we are not only improving access but also making it far easier for patients to get the tests they need quickly and efficiently.
“Reaching the milestone of one million tests delivered is a remarkable achievement. The success of the programme is a testament to the dedication and collaboration of our teams across the region who have worked tirelessly to make this vision a reality. I’m incredibly proud of what has been accomplished so far, and I look forward to seeing even more patients benefit as we continue to expand and innovate our diagnostic services.”
