ModuleCo has completed and handed over a state-of-the-art MRI community diagnostic centre at Furness General Hospital in Barrow-in-Furness, as part of the NHS’s Community Diagnostic Centre (CDC) programme. Developed in close partnership with University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust (UHMBT), the new CDC will expand the hospital’s imaging capacity and accelerate patient diagnoses. The facility’s completion marks a significant milestone in efforts to improve patient access to vital tests and reduce diagnostic backlogs in the Morecambe Bay region.
Expanding Community Diagnostics in Morecambe Bay
The new imaging hub, known as the Croslands Community Diagnostic Centre, was funded through the national CDC initiative, which is establishing dozens of diagnostic hubs across the country. The centre is located on the Furness General Hospital site, to the rear of the existing Croslands building. It will be run jointly by UHMBT and local primary care partners, bringing services out of the main hospital and into a dedicated facility within the community.
The aim is to offer a “one stop shop” for tests, meaning patients can get multiple diagnostic procedures done in one visit, ultimately enabling quicker, earlier detection of conditions such as cancer. Patients will access the new centre via GP or specialist referral, rather than having to travel to larger regional hospitals for advanced scans.
MRI-Focused “One Stop” Facility
The Croslands CDC’s focal point is a cutting-edge MRI scanning suite capable of delivering high-resolution imaging for a range of conditions. The design features:
- An MRI scanner suite with a separate operator control room
- A patient preparation area and a recovery area for post-scan care
- Patient changing facilities, plus a reception and waiting area
- Three clinical consulting/exam rooms for additional tests and patient consultations
All of these elements are housed under one roof, making the centre a true “one stop shop” for diagnostic imaging and related assessments. This means patients no longer need to navigate multiple hospital departments or wait in general outpatient areas for imaging appointments, a major improvement in convenience and comfort.
“It will be a huge improvement for our patients,” said Joanne Park, Head of Radiology at FGH. “Patients will be able to come directly into the new centre and won’t have to wait in the Outpatients Reception or go to different areas of the hospital for tests”. She added that the investment “will bring crucial tests closer to home and help us improve outcomes for patients with serious conditions, ultimately sparing more families the pain and trauma of disease”.
The centre is equipped with the latest imaging technology and safety features, ensuring a modern, high-quality diagnostic environment for both patients and staff.
Fast-Track Healthcare Construction
ModuleCo delivered the Furness CDC using its innovative off-site construction approach, enabling a rapid and efficient build. The single-storey building was manufactured as a series of modules in ModuleCo’s factory and delivered to site at approximately 90% complete. This “factory-first” method allowed on-site foundation and enabling works to proceed in parallel with off-site fabrication.
As a result, overall project timelines were significantly shortened and disruption to the busy hospital campus was minimised. The new building was installed on a previously unused piece of land at FGH that had been earmarked for capacity expansion. ModuleCo’s team worked closely with the Trust’s estates and clinical teams throughout design and construction, ensuring the facility was tailored to the hospital’s needs and ready for immediate integration upon delivery. The project remained on schedule and within budget, exemplifying how modern methods of construction can accelerate healthcare estates projects without compromising on quality.
“Our Capital Services Team is doing a great job of building the new centre… we are very excited to be setting up this valuable service in Barrow,” said Joanne Park during the construction phase.
Improving Patient Access and Outcomes
The addition of this MRI-focused diagnostic centre is expected to have an immediate positive impact on patients across South Cumbria. By increasing the number of scans and tests that can be done locally, the CDC will help cut waiting lists and speed up time-to-diagnosis for conditions where early detection is critical.
Community Diagnostic Centres like this are designed to provide thousands more tests per year in convenient locations, saving patients from the time and expense of multiple hospital visits. In Barrow and the surrounding area, this means many patients will receive potentially life-saving diagnostic scans closer to home and faster than before. For example, someone with suspected cancer can get an MRI appointment more quickly, which in turn allows doctors to confirm a diagnosis and start treatment earlier.
The new centre also frees up space within Furness General’s main building, reducing pressure on acute hospital services and enabling the hospital to focus on inpatient and emergency care while routine diagnostics happen in parallel at the CDC. Hospital leaders have hailed the project as a much-needed boost: “We welcome this major and well-deserved investment at FGH,” said Aaron Cummins, Chief Executive of UHMBT. “It will increase our capacity for crucial tests and help improve outcomes for patients by diagnosing serious conditions earlier”, he noted, emphasizing the benefit of delivering care closer to the community.
This project follows on the heels of other CDC and modular healthcare builds by ModuleCo across the UK, including recent diagnostic centres in London and Kent.
“With a focus on innovative design and efficient delivery, our off-site approach minimises disruption and accelerates project timelines,” said Andy Godden, Managing Director of ModuleCo, adding that the company is proud to support the NHS’s CDC programme. “Ultimately, it’s about improving patient care. By working collaboratively with trusts like UHMBT, we’re able to create high-quality facilities that benefit patients sooner,” he said.
Now that the new Furness MRI centre is complete, local patients and staff can look forward to a faster, easier diagnostic experience.