Walton Hospital Community Diagnostic Centre phase 2 officially opens

Derbyshire Community Health Services (DCHS) and Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust marked the official opening of phase 2 of Walton Hospital’s Community Diagnostic Centre (CDC) on September 22, 2026.

Walton Hospital’s CDC originally opened in September 2025 following a £5.2 million investment. Soon afterwards, NHS England awarded a further £7.5 million to fund a second phase of development. This expansion significantly enhanced the centre’s imaging capabilities with the installation of a GE HealthCare Revolution Vibe CT system and a Signa Champion MRI system, bringing both CT and MRI services into a purpose-built extension and replacing the need for mobile scanning units previously located outside the diagnostic centre.

Dr Unnikrishnan Anoop, consultant radiologist at Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust said: “We are delighted to commence cardiac CT scan services to our local community in North Derbyshire with the addition of GE HealthCare Revolution Vibe, our newest CT scanner at our Community Diagnostic Centre in Walton. The Revolution Vibe CT scanner combines cutting edge CT technology and advances in AI to deliver high quality non-invasive cardiac imaging which will significantly benefit our community.

“Scans can be completed much faster with less radiation dose, require less patient preparation, reduced premedication requirements for heart rate control and less monitoring. This would mean much faster and efficient workflow, reduced waiting times and most importantly enhanced patient experience and access to these tests much closer to home rather than travelling to specialised centres.”

One of the most remarkable achievements of the project was the speed of delivery. Funding for phase 2 was approved in October 2025, and the centre welcomed its first patients just ten months later in August 2026. The efficiency of the programme, combined with close collaboration between DCHS, Chesterfield Royal Hospital and construction partners, enabled the rapid delivery of this important community healthcare investment.

Bhavesh Barot, GE HealthCare general manager for Norther Europe added: “We are proud to collaborate with Walton Hospital in expanding access to advanced diagnostic services across north Derbyshire. Through technologies such as Revolution Vibe CT, we aim to help clinicians deliver high-quality care efficiently while supporting the NHS ambition to improve patient outcomes, increase diagnostic capacity and reduce waiting times. This collaboration demonstrates how innovation, partnership and a shared commitment to patient-centred care can help transform the healthcare experience for local communities.”

The project faced a number of challenges. Construction took place on an active community hospital site, requiring careful planning to ensure that patient care and hospital operations continued safely throughout the build. DCHS’s capital and estates teams, together with the integrated facilities management team, were instrumental in maintaining the smooth day-to-day running of Walton Hospital while the expansion was underway.

The new facility was constructed using a modular approach. Interconnected units were manufactured off site and transported to Walton Hospital, where they were craned into position over several weekends. This method enabled an entirely new hospital wing to be assembled efficiently while minimising disruption to patients, visitors and staff. Once installed, the building was fitted with advanced diagnostic equipment and specialist facilities designed to support modern healthcare delivery. The project required extensive collaboration between clinicians, estates teams, architects, engineers, contractors and operational staff from both organisations.

The opening ceremony was attended by representatives from partner organisations, Chesterfield MP Toby Perkins and Health Minister James Frith MP, who celebrated the completion of the centre and its contribution to improving access to diagnostic services for local communities.

Lead picture: Helen Barker, Sarah Hackett, Rebecca Ward, Chloe Vernon, Dr Unnikrishnan Anoop and Kerry Sheedy.

This news story has been sponsored by the companies concerned and does not represent the views or opinions of RAD Magazine.