The investment forms part of a £237 million national programme to boost diagnostic capacity across England, including 36 new and upgraded Community Diagnostic Centres. West Swindon has been named as one of the selected locations.
The funding will support a modular facility fitted with MRI, CT and non-obstetric ultrasound scanners. Improvements to local audiology services are also planned.
The aim is to ease pressure on hospitals and allow more patients to access tests closer to home.
In 2025, NHS England delivered almost 30 million diagnostic tests, the highest number on record, as demand continues to grow.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting said the expansion is part of wider efforts to improve early diagnosis and modernise care. He said:
“The NHS should fit around people’s lives, not require patients to fit their lives around the NHS.”
Councillor Leon Grother said the funding responds directly to concerns about healthcare provision in West Swindon.
“I know West Swindon residents have concerns about local NHS capacity and there is often talk of whether we need a new or expanded hospital in the town,” he said.
“This new investment not only adds to the capacity we already have at GWH but, importantly, brings essential diagnostic services into the heart of our community.”
He added:
“It’s a practical step that will make accessing care simpler and more convenient for local people. Having high quality, local NHS services is something we should all be able to take for granted.”
Grother also referenced the wider political debate around healthcare funding.
“When political parties like Reform talk about moving to an insurance-based system, what they really mean is that you will need to whip your credit card out at the door of A&E,” he said.
Further details about the precise site of the new facility and how soon waiting times could fall have not yet been released.
Community Diagnostic Centres provide scans and tests such as MRIs, CT scans and ultrasounds in community settings, often away from main hospital sites.
Around 170 centres are currently operating across England, with this latest funding round aimed at expanding that network.
Patients in West Swindon are expected to see benefits from the additional capacity as early as this year, although a confirmed delivery timeline has not been published.
