Colchester Hospital has celebrated the opening of a new imaging centre, which is likely to welcome 20,000 people this year.

East Anglian Daily Times: The new centre at the Colchester Hospital opens Picture: STEVE BRADINGThe new centre at the Colchester Hospital opens Picture: STEVE BRADING (Image: STEVE BRADING PHOTOGRAPHY)

The Turner Dianostic Centre at the hospital brings together several diagnostic imaging services into one place, making it more convenient for patients to access scans.

This new centre is part of an overall plan to transfer clinical services from Essex County Hospital and to fully extend patient services under the newly merged East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust.

Sarah Warner, the diagnostic centre manager said: “Everything is streamlined here, but we’ve also put a lot of care into creating an environment where patients feel calm and relaxed when they come for a scan.

“Even the walls are decorated with work from local artists – a reference to our community and also to the celebrated local artist William Turner who lends his name to our centre.”

East Anglian Daily Times: From left to right: Mark Chapman, MD Alliance Medical UK; Dawn Scrafield, Finance Director ESNEFT; David White, Chairman, ESNEFT; David White, Chairman, ESNEFT and Sarah Warner, Unit Manager, Alliance Medical UK stand with the new PET-CT scanner Picture: STEVE BRADINGFrom left to right: Mark Chapman, MD Alliance Medical UK; Dawn Scrafield, Finance Director ESNEFT; David White, Chairman, ESNEFT; David White, Chairman, ESNEFT and Sarah Warner, Unit Manager, Alliance Medical UK stand with the new PET-CT scanner Picture: STEVE BRADING (Image: STEVE BRADING PHOTOGRAPHY)

Since opening in April of this year, the centre, built adjacent to the hospital’s emergency department, has introduced two new MRI scanners and a new CT scanner.

The machines were all supplied by Alliance Medical who also funded the centre itself in collaboration with the trust.

The increased diagnostic capacity has meant that patients have a quicker access to appointments and to their scan results.

David White, the trust chairman said: “The East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust are very proud of the Turner Diagnostic Centre and the collaborative partnership we have formed with Alliance Medical to deliver improved diagnostic imaging services to Colchester.

“This has enabled the Trust and more importantly our patients and staff to benefit from fantastic new facilities and equipment, joint staffing and new research capabilities.”