Readers have waded in with their views
David Prince and Plymouth Live readers
06:00, 29 Mar 2026
A Community Diagnostic Centre (CDC) takes shape at Colin Campbell Court/Western Approach(Image: William Telford)
Plymouth Live readers have expressed their views regarding proposals for an additional NHS diagnostic facility in the city’s West End.
Plymouth City Council is providing land to the NHS for the construction of a second community diagnostic centre (CDC) in the West End.
A planning submission is expected imminently for a four-storey structure at Colin Campbell Court, conceived to work alongside the initial £25 million NHS England-funded facility scheduled for completion in May, with its first appointments beginning on 23rd June.
The adjacent centres will substantially increase diagnostic provision for residents across the area, according to University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust.
Whilst CDC2 will be more compact, it may additionally serve as a primary care hub accommodating relocated local GP practices.
The building will accommodate sophisticated diagnostic technology, including an extra MRI scanner, DEXA scanning equipment and ultrasound capabilities, together with specialist consultation spaces for cancer treatment pathways and dedicated clinics offering phlebotomy and Point of Care Testing (POCT).
The trust maintains that this development forms a crucial element of a nationally acknowledged NHS care framework intended to deliver vital healthcare provision nearer to patients’ homes, consequently alleviating strain on acute hospital locations and enhancing the patient journey overall. A proposed ‘health village’ forms a key element of Plymouth City Council’s West End regeneration strategy, aimed at addressing health disparities and enabling earlier disease detection.
The council and NHS trust are inviting residents to participate in a public consultation regarding the second community diagnostics centre via the website www.plymouthhospitalstrust.nhs.uk
Cllr Mark Lowry (Lab, Southway), the council’s cabinet member for finance and city centre champion, explained that this multimillion-pound land transaction – which would see the council transfer the site to the NHS for a nominal £1 fee, mirroring the arrangement for the first CDC – would enable swift progress on the development.
One reader, Plaintosee writes: “All sounds great but wait a minute, where are all the staff going to come from and who is going to pay for this? The NHS have had record funding but still won’t employ or even train enough staff as it stands!”
Wastenotime comments: “The land has been gifted to ‘University hospital NHS trust’, not the NHS. Derriford was once known as Derriford Hospital NHS. Does the university fund the NHS hospital now?”
Jeanearl asks: “Why is the council donating this land and the land for the first diagnostic centre to the NHS? Why is the NHS not paying for it? The people of Plymouth should get the new building paid for by the NHS and the sale of the land would provide more money to be spent for the benefit of the people of Plymouth. We fund the NHS through our taxes, now by donating this land instead of selling our land, we pay twice.”
Iknownothing agrees: “As you said, we pay for the NHS already, so if they bought that land, then we’re paying for it either way, if not having to pay more and deprive funds for actual services, so what is your point?
RickOshay thinks: “This is very good news and a welcome boost to NHS capacity. The desperation of the usual commenters to find something to moan about is hilarious. Perhaps because the NHS don’t have the money to buy the land, therefore it wouldn’t be built. Donating the land in order to enable a new facility to be built swiftly that will benefit the community seems like a very good deal.”
Maffyj says: “The Council have taken the future looking view to facilitate the redevelopment of the West end of the City Centre and should be applauded for it.”
Let us know your views HERE or in the comments below.