Oldham Council’s Planning Committee on 20^th September 2023 approved plans for an expanded Community Diagnostics Village on Salmon Fields including two, two-storey medical diagnostics buildings, a single storey PET CT Scanner, a mobile CT Scanner and making permanent the previously approved Community Diagnostics Hub Building with associated landscaping and parking.

Royton South’s Labour Councillors have worked closely with Oldham Council’s Planning Department and the NHS to get the plans to committee as quickly as possible to get the services up and running for Oldham residents. The Centre will deliver scans including X-rays and ultrasounds; heart diagnostic tests such as echocardiograms; lung tests; blood testing; tests to look inside your body including colonoscopies and eye tests including retinal imaging.

Councillor Barbara Brownridge welcomed the new NHS services saying “Patients will be able to have multiple tests on the same day in the same place, which will be much easier for many. I hope that waiting times for appointments will be shorter and disease be diagnosed at an earlier stage, improving the chances of successful treatment. However, there is still a staffing crisis in the NHS and the Government also needs to invest in doctors, nurses and technicians to make the most of the Diagnostics Village.”

Councillor Steven Bashforth, Labour Councillor for Royton South added “Local patients will have access to some of the most advanced diagnostic technology available to the NHS. This will mean earlier diagnosis of both cancer and cardio-respiratory disease, resulting in improved outcomes for patients. I know from personal experience how important it is to get an early diagnosis so treatment can start as soon as possible. However wonderful a new NHS building and equipment can be, it can only deliver with the staff to make it work. I urge the Government to get round the table with NHS junior doctors and consultants to resolve the ongoing dispute and get the best out of this investment in Oldham.”