Breathing new life into local healthcare: Mansfield Community Diagnostic Centre offers lung tests

Patients with breathing difficulties are among those who can now benefit from vital lung health tests at Mansfield Community Diagnostic Centre (CDC).

With just under a year to go until the CDC opens on the Mansfield Community Hospital site, a respiratory clinic in the hospital has started offering 60 extra appointments each month to test for conditions like asthma and Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Local residents have already benefited from more than 86,000 diagnostic tests – including blood tests, x-rays, MRI and ultrasound scans – since the CDC, which is run by Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, started offering services in October 2023.

The CDC, which is the first of its kind in Nottinghamshire, has provided services at existing NHS sites at Mansfield Community Hospital, Newark Hospital and scans being offered in a mobile unit at the Nottingham Road Clinic, Mansfield.

Aimee Allsop, Senior Respiratory and Sleep Physiology Assistant at Sherwood Forest Hospitals, said: “Patients appreciate having this service at Mansfield Community Hospital, which is easy to access via public transport and convenient parking, which makes a real difference - especially for those struggling with breathlessness. They don’t have to travel long distances through a large hospital, which helps make the experience much more comfortable for them.

"As a team, we’re looking forward to the completion of the new building and the opportunity to expand the service even further."

Local patient Danielle Knight added: “It is great to see services at Mansfield Community Hospital growing. I live locally, so it was nice having the service closer to home.

“The service is great, the staff were very helpful and put my mind at ease. They’re a truly lovely team."

Amanda Barrett, the Trust's Programme Manager for the project, said: “The Mansfield CDC has already proven to be a game-changer in how we deliver diagnostic services, ensuring patients receive the tests they need in a much more efficient way. Delivering over 86,000 tests before the new building is even complete is a clear example of the dedication of our teams and the demand for these services - and the countdown is now on to the full Centre opening in 2026.”

Once complete, the new purpose-built facility will offer thousands of tests every week, helping patients get quicker diagnoses in one visit.

Patients and service users, local residents and NHS staff are invited to hear about the latest developments and improvements within the CDC at a drop-in event on Wednesday 13 August between 10am and 2pm inside the entrance of Mansfield Community Hospital.

To follow the latest on the project, visit the CDC webpage.