A major expansion of the Community Diagnostic Centre (CDC) at Seacroft Hospital has been confirmed following a £20 million investment from national funding, with the aim of significantly increasing access to essential diagnostic tests for patients across Leeds.
The project, led by Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, will introduce a range of enhanced facilities, including two new MRI scanners, expanded phlebotomy services, and additional treatment rooms. Construction is scheduled to begin in January 2027, with existing services at the CDC remaining fully operational throughout the build.
Craige Richardson, Deputy Chief Executive at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, said:
“This is fantastic news for patients in Leeds. Once complete, the extended centre will provide tens of thousands of extra diagnostic tests each year, helping patients get faster answers for conditions such as cancer, heart and lung disease.
“This expansion will bring more care closer to home, particularly benefiting communities in Leeds where health needs are greatest.”
Originally opened in 2024, the Seacroft CDC already offers a wide range of diagnostic services, including blood tests, blood pressure checks, sleep studies, self-request chest X-rays, ultrasounds, X-rays, electrocardiograms and echocardiograms. The expansion is expected to strengthen its role as a key access point for rapid diagnostics.
The centre is one of three CDCs serving the Leeds area, alongside facilities in Armley and Beeston, forming part of a broader strategy to decentralise diagnostic services and improve accessibility for patients. By enabling more people to receive tests closer to home, the CDC network helps reduce demand on major hospital sites while supporting faster diagnosis and earlier treatment.
For referring clinicians, the expanded capacity provides greater flexibility. GPs and hospital teams can continue to direct patients to the most convenient location, offering a choice between local diagnostic centres, GP practices, or larger acute hospital settings.
The investment aligns with national NHS priorities to improve early diagnosis and tackle waiting times, particularly in high-demand areas such as cancer and cardiovascular disease. For healthcare leaders, the Seacroft expansion represents a significant step forward in delivering community-based care at scale.
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