Construction is progressing well on a new Community Diagnostic Centre (CDC) in Portsmouth, being developed in partnership by Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust (PHU) and Alliance Medical (AML), to improve access to vital diagnostic services and support earlier diagnosis for local people.

Located at Rodney Road, the team are transforming an existing Trust owned building into a modern, community focused diagnostic centre, designed to help patients receive quicker access to tests, closer to home and outside of the acute hospital setting.

The Portsmouth CDC, which will be fully open by October 2026, means patients benefit from increased diagnostic capacity, with new services in the area including:

• MRI, CT, X-ray and Ultrasound

Alongside new CDC services, Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust already delivers mammography and sleep study services from the site. They will also provide phlebotomy, cardiology, neurophysiology, lung function and audiology from the building, helping people access services closer to home.

Advanced diagnostics delivered in a community setting

Once fully operational, the Portsmouth CDC will provide modern diagnostic services, delivered using state of the art technology in a community environment, designed around patients and local need.

Community Diagnostic Centres are designed to make access to diagnostics simpler and more convenient, offering:

• Faster access to tests that support earlier diagnosis and treatment

• Appointments at a more convenient location, often closer to home

• A welcoming, friendly environment to receive care in

• Free onsite parking and good transport links

• Increased local diagnostic capacity, helping to relieve pressure on existing hospital services

Matt Freeman, Regional Director at Alliance Medical, said:

"At Alliance Medical, Community Diagnostic Centres are about far more than installing scanners. Delivering a successful CDC requires strong clinical leadership, robust governance, and well-designed patient pathways that genuinely improve access to diagnostics. In Portsmouth, we are working closely with Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust, combining our national experience in delivering CDCs with high-quality imaging technology to support earlier diagnosis, improve patient outcomes, and align with local NHS priorities."

Steve Mathieu, Medical Director at Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust, said:

“This new Community Diagnostic Centre is about improving the experience and outcomes for our patients. By providing faster access to a wide range of diagnostic tests in a community location, we can help people get answers sooner and support earlier intervention where it matters most. Our partnership with Alliance Medical allows us to expand diagnostic capacity while maintaining strong clinical governance and ensuring services are aligned with local needs and NHS priorities. It also helps protect capacity within our acute hospital sites, allowing them to focus on the most complex care. We look forward to welcoming our first patients later this year.”

Looking ahead

As the centre moves towards opening, clinical teams are preparing the site, with advanced diagnostic equipment being installed ahead of services going live.

Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust and Alliance Medical will continue to work closely together as the project progresses and will share updates with patients, staff, stakeholders and partners in the months ahead.