Wood Green Community Diagnostic Centre (CDC) has now opened its new Lower Ground Floor, bringing MRI and CT diagnostic testing to the heart of Haringey from the high street.
It first opened its doors in August 2022, following the completion of phase one of the project which saw the introduction of blood tests, x-ray, ultrasound, and ophthalmology services making it quicker and easier for people across Haringey and north central London to access diagnostic testing. An incredible 55,000 local people have been tested at the CDC since its opening.
In January 2023, work began to expand the CDC from one floor to two. The most recent phase highlights an even more ambitious programme, successfully adding new MRI and CT scanning facilities.
Patients are already benefiting from its additional diagnostic capacities, just days after the building works on the lower ground floor of the Wood Green CDC were completed on 24 November. The centre will celebrate its official opening early next year.
Krzystof Didek was the first MRI patient to be seen at Wood Green CDC, but it was not his first scan. His previous experience was in a central London location, which was much busier, with lots more people and much longer wait times. This time, his journey to his appointment was an easy one, a 10-minute walk down Wood Green High Road. He was guided to the CDC by the signs on entering the shopping centre and directed to the lower ground floor on arrival.
When asked if he would use the service again, Krzystof said “It was very easy to get here and I was seen straight away, I would 100% come back to the CDC in the future if I needed to. I would tell others that they should come here too straight away, there were no problems”.
Everyone in Haringey and across north central London, like Krzystof, can receive their diagnostic testing at the Wood Green CDC. To find out more about the Wood Green CDC and detailed information on the referral process visit The Whittington Health NHS Trust website.
Gemma Walsh, CT / MRI Lead Radiographer at Wood Green NHS Community Diagnostic Centre said:
“It’s an exciting time to be working in the NHS with the development of community diagnostic centres, and equally exciting for the community of North Central London as the new CDC opens within The Mall at Wood Green.
The CDC at Wood Green not only brings CT and MRI diagnostic imaging into the community, making it easy for patients to access, but it also allows GPs to directly refer patients for some imaging examinations. Patients can receive diagnostic imaging without having to attend a main hospital site or wait for a hospital referral. This will allow the NHS to achieve its aims of reducing waiting times for diagnostic imaging and help combat local health inequalities.”
I am grateful to be part of the friendly, professional team at Wood Green and will continue to strive to make every success of the CT and MRI services for the North Central London community.”
This project could not have been completed in such a short timescale without the dedication and support of the imaging teams at Siemens Healthiness and Philips IKU, and Storm Building Ltd, HFM and Capital and Regional.
