Construction work has officially begun on a new MRI and CT scanning facility near Poole Hospital in Dorset. The project, which involves replacing the existing Shaftesbury House building on Shaftesbury Road, follows planning approval granted by BCP Council on 30 April 2026.
The new facility is being built by University Hospitals Dorset to help increase the number of patients that can be seen for diagnostic scans. By providing a modern, fit-for-purpose space, the trust aims to reduce current waiting times for these essential services. Demolition of the former site got underway on 7 May 2026.
Matthew Benbow, the CT and MRI Service Manager at the trust, said staff are excited about the new facility and the potential for further investment at the Poole Hospital site. This development is part of a wider £500m transformation programme currently being managed by University Hospitals Dorset. The overall plan focuses on developing Poole Hospital as the country’s largest planned care hospital, while the Royal Bournemouth Hospital is being established as the major emergency care centre for the east Dorset area.
Local residents can stay informed about the progress of the scanning centre through monthly newsletters provided by the trust. This building project sits alongside other infrastructure upgrades at the hospital, including a new £21m Endoscopy Centre that is also under construction as part of the trust’s broader efforts to improve local care facilities.
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