ModuleCo has recently completed a new Community Diagnostic Centre (CDC) on the Furness General Hospital site in Barrow-in-Furness for the University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust (UHMBT). This standalone facility, known as a focused imaging centre due to its single-specialism design, is dedicated to MRI scanning services, unlike integrated imaging centres that accommodate multiple diagnostic modalities (for example, MRI and CT under one roof). The project, called the Croslands CDC (after the nearby Croslands building on the hospital campus), was built with an investment of £5.8 million and is slated to open in 2025. It was constructed as a single-storey modular building on previously unused hospital land (the site of a former temporary theatre removed in 2018), allowing for a faster build to help meet urgent diagnostic capacity needs.
The new MRI-focused CDC at Furness General has been developed and will be operated by UHMBT in partnership with the Morecambe Bay Primary Care Collaborative. It is part of the NHS’s nationwide Community Diagnostic Centre programme, aimed at expanding diagnostic services closer to communities. In fact, the Croslands CDC was supported by national CDC funding allocated to improve and increase diagnostic capacity at Furness General. Within the Lancashire and South Cumbria health system, this Barrow facility is designated as a CDC “spoke” site developed in collaboration between the regional Integrated Care Board and the local hospital trust.
Design and Facilities
The Furness General CDC is a standalone imaging that houses a state-of-the-art MRI scanning suite alongside all necessary support and clinical spaces to create a “one-stop shop” for diagnostics. Key features of the centre include:
- MRI Scanner Room – enclosing a modern MRI machine for advanced imaging.
- Control Room – where radiographers and technicians operate the scanner and monitor patients.
- Patient Preparation & Sub-Waiting Areas – designated spaces for patients to get ready for scans and wait comfortably prior to imaging.
- Patient Changing Rooms – private changing areas for patients to change into gowns or remove metal items as required for MRI.
- Recovery/Observation Area – a small recovery area for patients who may need a moment to rest or be monitored after a scan.
- Consultation/Examination Rooms (3) – multipurpose clinic rooms where patients can have pre-scan checks or post-scan consultations, allowing clinicians to discuss results or conduct related exams on-site.
- Interview/Counseling Room – a private room for patient interviews or counseling (e.g. to take medical history or provide guidance).
- Clean Utility & Store – rooms for storing medical supplies and for preparing any materials needed for scans (maintaining infection control and proper storage of contrast media, etc).
- Administrative/Reception Area – an entrance and reception desk to welcome patients, check them in, and handle administrative tasks.
- Staff Room & Welfare Facilities – dedicated space for staff breaks and welfare (restroom, kitchenette), ensuring that radiographers and support staff have on-site amenities during their shifts.
This comprehensive layout ensures that most patient needs can be managed within the same facility, streamlining the diagnostic journey. The CDC’s design emphasis was on patient comfort and efficient workflow: for example, having an on-site preparation and sub-waiting area means patients no longer have to wait in the main hospital or visit multiple departments for a single imaging appointment. The modern construction and interior also create a more welcoming environment, which can help put anxious patients at ease during what can be an intimidating procedure.
Patient Benefits and Impact
The Croslands CDC at Furness General is expected to significantly improve patient access to diagnostics in the region. Its establishment will increase the number of MRI scans available locally, helping to reduce backlogs and waiting times for both hospital patients and GP-referred community patients. Importantly, patients can be referred by their GPs directly to this centre for advanced imaging, rather than having to travel to larger hospitals farther away. By providing scans closer to home and quicker results, the CDC supports earlier detection of conditions, including serious illnesses like cancer, which in turn enables earlier treatment interventions.
Patients coming for an MRI at the CDC will have a seamless experience when they check in at the dedicated reception, change and prepare in the adjacent rooms, undergo the scan, and if needed can consult with a clinician in one of the on-site exam rooms, all in one visit. This eliminates the need for navigating multiple hospital departments for related tests or consultations. The enhanced patient environments also a major improvement. According to the head of radiology at FGH, the CDC offers a “much nicer environment” for patients and will spare them the discomfort of waiting in main hospital areas or moving between different hospital zones for various tests. Staff likewise benefit from the purpose-designed space with all necessary equipment and supplies are co-located, which improves workflow efficiency and teamwork.
In summary, the new Furness General CDC is a strategically important addition to local healthcare infrastructure. Backed by national funding and delivered through innovative modular construction, it expands diagnostic capacity for the University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS FT while providing patients in the Barrow area with faster, easier access to MRI scans. This targeted investment in a single-specialism diagnostic hub is expected to speed up diagnosis, contribute to better patient outcomes, and integrate smoothly with primary care by handling GP referrals for imaging. As part of the broader Community Diagnostic Centre initiative, the Furness General CDC exemplifies how focused facilities can relieve pressure on main hospitals and bring services closer to the community, all within a high-quality environment.
