UNIVERSITY Hospitals Dorset (UHD) has launched an additional diagnostic imaging centre based at Health Sciences University (HSU) in Boscombe.    

Health Sciences University, formerly the AECC University College in Parkwood Road, has leased space on the ground floor of its clinic building to UHD to give the NHS extra capacity for diagnostic imaging.  

The new UHD diagnostic imaging centre houses a CT scanner and ultrasound facilities.  

In February 2023, AECC University College was named by NHS England as one of the Dorset Community Diagnostic Centre spoke sites, with funding provided to support the development. 

Spoke sites aim to reach into known areas of deprivation to support the levelling up of health and health care inequalities and to enable the development of place-based partnerships.  

Professor Lesley Haig, vice chancellor of HSU, said: “This is an exciting new venture with UHD and we are delighted to be able to support the trust in this way.  

“As Dorset’s only provider of pre-registration radiography courses and with our onsite clinical imaging services, our working partnership with UHD is critical in supporting the development of future workforce as well as enhancing patient access to diagnostic services.   

“Our imaging partnership started with the commissioning of Ultrasound services here on campus in March 2021 as part of Covid-19 recovery.  

“Since then, we have undertaken 10,000 scans as part of a collaboration between UHD and HSU. We have also been working with UHD to develop a pan-Dorset Radiography Academy, to secure a partnership approach to training Dorset’s future radiography workforce.”  

Mark Mould, UHD’s chief operating officer, added: "With Poole Hospital as the major elective care hub for east Dorset, alongside sites in Weymouth, Dorchester, Beales at Poole, we are delighted to welcome Health Sciences University as our newest partner, further improving accessibility to care.  

“By strategically placing these spoke sites, we’re tackling health disparities and ensuring access to diagnostics reaches communities that need it most.   

“Our partnership with HSU, offering strong educational links in radiography and ultrasonography, also plays a key role in developing a skilled local workforce to support healthcare across Dorset."