More health checks and scans will be available for residents in Gateshead starting in spring 2027 thanks to a £10 million investment to grow the testing facility at the Metrocentre.
The Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust, working in partnership with the Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, will add a new MRI scanner, additional ultrasound rooms, and new X-ray facilities to the centre. These upgrades, which are part of a wider government plan to improve access to local healthcare, will provide capacity for more than 38,000 extra appointments every year.
Located in the former House of Fraser store, the centre was opened to provide easier access to services outside of a traditional hospital setting. Since it first welcomed patients in October 2024, the facility has already helped over 75,000 people receive the scans and health checks they need.
The upcoming expansion will also include a specific clinic for outpatient hysteroscopy procedures. This addition follows a recent visit to the area by Dame Lesley Regan, the Women’s Health Ambassador for England, who has been highlighting the importance of integrated services for women.
The centre is part of the Great North Healthcare Alliance and is managed on a day-to-day basis by QE Facilities Ltd. Patients and staff also benefit from the support of the Gateshead Health Charity, which provides extra resources for equipment and improvements to the environment that go beyond standard funding.
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