Metrocentre NHS Expands with £13.5M Boost, Adding 38,000 Annual Appointments
The Metrocentre Community Diagnostic Centre in Gateshead will increase its capacity, Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting announced. The hub occupies the former House of Fraser unit inside the Metrocentre shopping complex.
New equipment and clinical space
The expansion will add two non-obstetric ultrasound machines. An extra x-ray unit and a dedicated hysteroscopy suite will also be installed.
Additional consulting rooms will support increased outpatient work. The centre already provides CT, MRI, ultrasound, heart and lung tests.
Activity, location and partnerships
The CDC opened in October 2024 after roughly £18 million of investment. It was created to reduce waiting times by offering diagnostics closer to patients.
In its first year the hub recorded more than 55,000 patient visits. By January this year the total attendance figure reached 75,000.
The site sits in the old department store with ample parking and good transport links. Newcastle Hospitals and Gateshead Health NHS trusts run the centre jointly.
National context and funding
The expansion follows commitments in the Government’s recent National Cancer Plan. Officials say similar centres will benefit from a wider programme of diagnostic investment worth £237 million.
Health ministers have set out three priorities for care: move services into communities, use technology better, and emphasise prevention. Wes Streeting said expanding community diagnostics fits those aims.
Voices on access and outcomes
Wes Streeting, who has spoken publicly about his own cancer experience, stressed earlier detection saves lives. He described community centres as part of reshaping how patients access care.
Professor Stella Vig, National Clinical Director for Elective Care at NHS England, said community diagnostic centres make tests more convenient. She added that easier access can help reduce waiting times.
Some coverage used the headline “Metrocentre NHS Expands with £13.5M Boost, Adding 38,000 Annual Appointments” to summarise the development. Filmogaz.com will continue to follow local progress and report further updates.
