It’s opening in the old Hanley Sainsbury’s
Gary Porter West Midlands Content Editor for StokeOnTrentLive
11:55, 21 Apr 2026Updated 05:59, 27 Apr 2026
The Community Diagnostic Centre has moved into the former Sainsburys supermarket on Etruria Road.(Image: Pete Stonier)
A new £43m health facility will enable around 180,000 patients a year to access tests without going to hospital. The Stoke-on-Trent Community Diagnostic Centre in Hanley, opens on Monday 27 April and will provide a range of tests including MRI, CT, ultrasound scans and X-rays.
At the moment, most patients in North Staffordshire have to travel to the Royal Stoke University Hospital for these tests. Bosses at University Hospitals of North Midlands say the new CDC, on the old Sainsbury’s site in Etruria Road, will improve access to diagnostic services while helping to ‘decompress’ the busy Royal Stoke site.
They hope this will mean faster diagnoses for patients, allowing them to start treatment more quickly, leading to better health outcomes. The Hanley site was chosen for its central location, transport links and the availability of parking.
Elaine Andrews, deputy director for strategy and transformation, said: “While you can get some tests such as X-rays in the community, most patients currently have to go to the Royal Stoke. We looked at how accessible the Royal Stoke is for the local population, and we know that for people living in more deprived areas such as Meir or Tunstall, it can be difficult.
“So we considered issues such as travel time and public transport and found that Hanley would be the best place for a community diagnostic centre. If you just need to get a test done, it means that you don’t have to deal with having to get to the Royal Stoke, then finding somewhere to park. The idea is that an acute hospital like the Royal Stoke should only be for activity that can only be done there.”
Ahead of the opening next week, here’s everything you need to know about the new facility…
What is a Community Diagnostic Centre?
Community Diagnostic Centre’s provide patients with a co-ordinated set of diagnostic tests in the community and in as few visits as possible, enabling an accurate and fast diagnosis on a range of clinical pathways.
The Stoke-on-Trent Community Diagnostic Centre will transform health services in the area with faster and easier access to diagnostic services for local people.
What services will the Stoke-on-Trent Community Diagnostic Centre provide?
The centre will be open seven days a week, 12 hours a day, and will provide up to 180,000 tests and scans each year for the community. These include:
- Blood tests
- X-rays
- CT scans
- Endoscopy
- MRI scans
- Ultrasound scans
- Physiological sciences; this includes Cardiology tests, Respiratory tests and Sleep tests
What are the benefits of a new Community Diagnostic Centre?
The six aims of a CDC are:
- Improve health outcomes by reaching patients earlier and providing accurate diagnoses of health conditions.
- Increase the availability of tests and scans.
- Quicker access to tests and scans.
- Reduce health inequalities by reducing variation in referrals, access, uptake, experience, and outcomes of diagnostic provision.
- Deliver better and more personalised patient experience.
- Support the integration of diagnostic pathways across primary, community and acute hospital care.
Where will the Community Diagnostic Centre be located?
Following an exhaustive process which looked at size, location, accessibility, and availability, the old Sainsbury’s site in Hanley was chosen due to good public and private transport links providing easy access for some who may otherwise find it difficult to get to the hospital.
Is there parking at the CDC?
Yes, there will be parking at the CDC.
Car parking is free for the duration of your appointment. When you arrive, please use the tablets located inside the main reception area to enter your vehicle registration details.
If you need any help, please speak to a member of staff.
If I don’t drive, how would I get to the CDC?
The CDC is located on Etruria Road in Hanley; it is 12-minute walk from Hanley Bus station, or you can catch the 38, 38A, 39, 39A,104 which stops outside of the site from Hanley Bus station.
Can I bring someone with me to the appointment?
Yes, you can bring someone with you. However, they may not be able to accompany you into the examination rooms except in special circumstances.
How is the CDC different from the Hospital?
The CDC is focused on diagnostic testing, your results will then be passed to the most appropriate care provider, this could be back to you GP or passed onto a consultant at the hospital.
The diagnostic testing that you receive at the CDC is of the same standard as the diagnostic testing that would be received on the hospital sites. There is no difference in the care you will receive, the benefit is that by sending the appropriate patients to the appropriate diagnostic sites it should speed up waiting times for diagnostic tests. An added benefit of the CDC is that it will aim to offer multiple appointments in the same trip for those that need different tests.
Will having an appointment at the CDC cause any delays to my treatment?
No, it will not cause a delay in your appointment, one of the key aims of the CDC is to speed up waiting times for diagnostic tests.
How do I access care at the CDC?
Where a diagnostic test is required, the GP will make the appropriate referral, all referrals will be screened for patient suitability to be seen at the CDC. You will be informed of where to attend your appoint via a letter.
Can I go to the CDC for emergency care?
The CDC is not an emergency care centre; the CDC will provide patients with access to diagnostic tests that are accessible through GP referrals. Emergency care can be sought from NHS 111 or if it is life threatening, please call 999.
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