Construction has commenced on the £19m ($23.85m) Community Diagnostic Centre (CDC) in Workington's town centre, England, UK. 

GRAHAM has been appointed as the principal contractor for this project. 

The CDC will be situated adjacent to the Cumberland Council-funded Innovation Hub currently under development. 

The centre's establishment comes in response to the doubling of diagnostic service referrals over the past three years in north Cumbria, resulting in extended waiting times for patients. 

North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust has been proactive in tackling the increased waiting times by deploying temporary mobile units at the Cumberland Infirmary and West Cumberland Hospital.  

The new two-storey CDC is said to serve as a more permanent solution. 

It will have diagnostic tools, including magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography, X-ray, and ultrasound scanning facilities, alongside consultation spaces.  

This development is being supported by Allerdale Borough Council through land allocation and continued backing from Cumberland Council. 

P+HS Architects is also involved in this project.  

P+HS director Derek Shepherd said: “We are delighted the CDC project in Workington has begun the construction phase. Following the extensive site appraisal and in-depth design development with the clinical stakeholders, it is great to see the project now being built.  

“Now on the path to completion the Diagnostic Centre will be a great benefit to the community and ensure early diagnosis contributes to improving health outcomes for many years to come.” 

With the foundations of the building laid, the new facility is expected to open to patients in early 2025.