Published on 21 November 2025
The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care Will Streeting met the leader of our Cancer Alliance on a visit to a Liverpool Community Diagnostic Centre (CDC).
Cheshire and Merseyside Cancer Alliance (CMCA) has been a leading partner in establishing a network of CDCs across our sub-region, which are helping to speed up access to diagnostic tests, including for cancer.
Mr Streeting was shown around Paddington CDC by Joan Spencer, Senior Responsible Officer for CMCA and also Chief Executive Officer of The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre (CCC).
Paddington CDC was opened in 2023 and is managed by CCC on behalf of the NHS in Cheshire and Merseyside. The CDC provides a range of diagnostic health tests for conditions including blood, respiratory and musculoskeletal conditions, as well as cancer.
Providing these tests in the heart of the community, close to those that need them, is important as it helps to reduce waiting times and means patients can begin any treatment they need as quickly as possible, improving their chances of recovery.
CDCs are a nationwide initiative helping to improve diagnostic capacity across the country. The centres were piloted in the North West and Paddington is now one of nine in Cheshire and Merseyside, with CCC also hosting Clatterbridge Diagnostic Centre in its Wirral hospital.
During his visit, Mr Streeting had the opportunity to visit the different areas of the centre, including the CT scanning department, and chat to staff and patients about the work that is going on and the impact it is having on patients.