Health Minister Karin Smyth MP has officially opened the new £11.7 million Community Diagnostic Centre (CDC) in Corby, marking a major milestone in improving access to vital diagnostic services for patients across Northamptonshire.

Delivered in partnership between Alliance Medical and the University Hospitals of Northamptonshire NHS Group (UHN), the centre is expected to provide more than 93,000 tests every year, significantly reducing wait times and enabling earlier diagnoses closer to home.

Patients are already benefiting from the service, with the first scans completed in June. The new facility houses state-of-the-art CT and MRI scanners supplied and operated by Alliance Medical, designed to combine speed, accuracy, and patient comfort. Each day, the Alliance Medical team will deliver up to 40 CT scans and 26 MRI scans, supporting earlier diagnosis and treatment.

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On opening day, the Minister was joined by NHS England representatives, colleagues from Integrated Care Northamptonshire, GPs, Northamptonshire Carers, and members of the local community.

Alliance Medical’s Chief Commercial and Operations Officer (North), Barney Schofield, was delighted to meet with the Minister and reflect on the company’s ongoing role in the national CDC programme He said:

“Corby CDC represents the latest phase of our close partnership with UHN. We’re proud to help the NHS in Northamptonshire deliver early and rapid diagnosis for patients across the county, in convenient and accessible community settings.”

Alliance Medical pioneered the UK’s first Community Diagnostic Centre, and Corby now joins a growing network of sites helping to transform NHS diagnostic capacity nationwide. By expanding access to imaging in community settings, these centres ease pressure on hospitals while ensuring patients are seen quickly and closer to home.

For more information, visit the Corby CDC centre page.