The Outpatients and Diagnostic Centre is the latest in a series of investments by Isle of Wight NHS Trust over the past three years, which have also included an expanded Intensive Care Unit, fully refurbished St Helens surgical ward, Ophthalmology Unit, a new Ambulance Station and an ongoing project to improve the island's emergency care floor. A further £2m has been invested in staff through recruitment, training and new equipment.
Chief officer Joe Smyth said: ‘We are delighted to have opened our island's new Community Diagnostic Centre. The new centre will transform the way islanders will be able to access the diagnostic care they need and reduce the number of times people will have to come to hospital.'
Chief operating officer Vicky Lauchlan said: ‘Through the creation of the new Community Diagnostic Centre we have been able to invest in our people and the island community.
‘Over 40 positions have been created to support the new CDC. Existing and new staff, who have been recruited locally, have benefitted from apprenticeships and other training and development schemes to ensure we have the workforce, along with our fantastic new facility, to provide the very best care to our patients.'