A major £20 million investment will see the expansion of the Seacroft Community Diagnostic Centre (CDC) in Leeds, significantly increasing access to diagnostic testing and helping thousands of patients receive faster diagnoses and treatment closer to home.
Backed by national funding, the project will enhance the existing facility at Seacroft Hospital with the addition of two MRI scanners, expanded phlebotomy services and extra treatment rooms. The development forms part of a wider strategy to improve community-based healthcare services and reduce pressure on acute hospital sites.
Construction is expected to begin in early 2027, with the upgraded centre scheduled to welcome patients in spring or summer 2028. Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust has confirmed that current services will continue without interruption throughout the construction phase.
The expanded facility is expected to deliver tens of thousands of additional diagnostic tests every year, supporting earlier detection and treatment of serious conditions including cancer, heart disease and respiratory illnesses.
Craige Richardson, Director of Estates and Facilities at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, said:
“This is a great step forward as we aim to provide tens of thousands of extra diagnostic tests each year for patients in Leeds.
“The extended centre will help patients get faster treatment for conditions such as cancer, heart and lung disease. It will also bring care closer to patients’ homes, making tests more accessible for local people.”
The Seacroft CDC opened in 2024 and currently provides a wide range of diagnostic and screening services, including blood tests, blood pressure monitoring, sleep studies, self-request chest X-rays, ultrasounds, electrocardiograms (ECGs), echocardiograms and X-rays.
It is one of three community diagnostic centres serving Leeds, alongside facilities in Armley and Beeston. Together, these centres are helping transform how patients access essential testing services by providing local alternatives to large hospital sites.
The community-based model allows GPs and hospital teams to refer patients to the most convenient location for diagnostic investigations. By reducing the need for travel into city-centre hospitals, the centres improve patient experience while helping the NHS tackle waiting lists and improve operational efficiency.
As demand for diagnostic services continues to grow, the Seacroft expansion represents a significant milestone in Leeds' ambition to deliver faster diagnoses, earlier interventions and more accessible healthcare for local communities.
Image credit: iStock
