NHS opens health facility at Metrocentre
A community diagnostic centre at the retail and leisure destination has welcomed its first patient as part of an £18.6m investment programme.
The centre, a partnership between Gateshead Health and Newcastle Hospitals as part of the Great North Healthcare Alliance, will offer a variety of diagnostic services such as imaging, respiratory, and cardiac investigations.
By providing these services outside of a traditional hospital setting, the CDC aims to relieve pressure on local hospitals.
The arrangement also fits within a theme of shopping centres giving further space over to non-retail uses, as retail landlords continue to adapt to the era of more shopping going online.
The project team involved in the construction includes Robertson Construction, AtkinsRéalis, architects Ryders, M&E designer LinkMEP, and JasperKerr as Structural consultant.
Announced in June 2023, the 40,000 sq ft CDC takes up space formerly occupied by House of Fraser.
In a move announced this summer, £6m is being invested in repurposing space at the Green Mall into three south-facing F&B units.
The Metrocentre health facility will provide services such as MRI, CT, ultrasound and echocardiogram scans, blood tests, and heart and lung function assessments.
The building will be managed by QE Facilities, while diagnostic services will be provided by both Gateshead Health and Newcastle Hospitals.
The centre is expected to deal with 145,000 appointments a year. Credit: via Aver
Alison Marshall on behalf of the Great North Healthcare Alliance said: “This project, a partnership between Gateshead Health and Newcastle Hospitals as part of the Great North Healthcare Alliance, has allowed us to offer cutting-edge diagnostic services in a retail setting.
“It improves access to healthcare for local people without taking any resources away from hospitals and has given us a chance to rethink how we provide diagnostic care to patients.
“Together, we’re building a future-ready NHS that aims to raise awareness of the importance of early diagnosis and testing to help people live longer, healthier lives, improves outcomes, and strengthens our region’s healthcare infrastructure.”
Ben Cox, director at Sovereign Centros from CBRE, asset manager of Metrocentre, said: “Welcoming the first patient into Metrocentre’s new NHS Community Diagnostic Centre is a landmark moment for the centre, as we push ahead with our strategy to evolve it into a place that serves the wider needs of the community.”
