Walton Hospital expands diagnostic services with £12.7m investment
Walton Hospital’s Community Diagnostic Centre has completed its second phase, expanding access to permanent CT, MRI and other diagnostic services for patients across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.
The investment includes £5.2 million for the original Community Diagnostic Centre (CDC), which opened in September 2025, plus a further £ 7.5 million from NHS England to expand the facility.
Delivered through a partnership between Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and Derbyshire Community Health Services NHS Foundation Trust, the second phase has brought permanent MRI and CT scanners to the site, replacing temporary mobile facilities.
The expansion also includes DEXA scanning and Children’s Audiology services, increasing the range of diagnostic services available locally.
The new CT scanner will also support advanced cardiac CT, bringing specialist heart scans closer to home and supporting earlier diagnosis and treatment.
Since opening, the CDC has delivered more than 71,000 tests and supported community-based services including liver screening, breathlessness services, children’s asthma pathways and urology one-stop clinics.
Patients can also access multiple tests in a single visit, reducing unnecessary travel and making diagnostic services more convenient.
The development supports the NHS ambition to provide more care closer to home, while helping to reduce pressure on busy hospital sites.
Jackie Smith, Chair of Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, said:
“The opening of Phase 2 of our Community Diagnostic Centre is a fantastic achievement and a testament to the strength of partnership working across our local health system.
“In just one year, this facility has already made a significant difference for patients, providing faster access to essential diagnostic tests and helping people receive answers sooner.
“The addition of permanent MRI and CT services, alongside DEXA scanning and Children’s Audiology, further strengthens our ability to diagnose conditions earlier, begin treatment sooner and improve outcomes for the communities we serve.”
Jim Austin, Chief Executive of Derbyshire Community Health Services NHS Foundation Trust, which runs Walton Hospital, said:
“This is a fantastic development for patients who can now access a wider range of sophisticated diagnostic tests at Walton Hospital. The Community Diagnostic Centre is easy to find from the car park and patients can park for free while they go in for their tests. It really is making patient care more accessible for people in Chesterfield.”
The new facilities form part of a wider network of Community Diagnostic Centres across Derbyshire, alongside the centre at Whitworth Hospital in Matlock.
Explore other developments shaping the future of Chesterfield: www.chesterfield.co.uk/developments/
