Construction begins on a new state-of-the-art MRI community diagnostic centre at West Berkshire Community Hospital

Wednesday 3 December 2025

A groundbreaking ceremony took place on Wednesday 3 December to mark the official start of construction of the new facility. Steve McManus, Chief Executive of the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust turned the soil with Dr Rob Tayton, Chairman of the Newbury and Thatcham Building Trust, alongside partners and colleagues from the Trust to mark this major celebration.

The Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust is building a new MRI community diagnostic centre at the West Berkshire Community Hospital. This state-of-the-art facility will be home to two new MRI scanners which have been generously donated by four local charities, including the Newbury and Thatcham Hospital Building Trust, the Peter Baker Foundation, the Greenham Common Trust, and the Storey Foundation.

This new MRI facility has been designed to meet the growing demand for advanced diagnostic imaging across Berkshire West. Equipped with two new MRI scanners, the facility will be capable of delivering 17,500 MRI scans annually ensuring local patients get faster access to essential imaging services.

This facility will be the latest addition to the development of radiology facilities at West Berkshire Community Hospital. In 2021 the hospital became part of the government’s Community Diagnostic CDC Programme and has seen substantial investment and improvements into imaging services. This includes the opening of a new mammography unit, DEXA scanner and two ultrasound suites in December 2024, and two digital plain film x-ray machines and cone beam CT scanner in 2023.

Steve McManus said: “I’m delighted that construction is now underway on our new state of the art diagnostic imaging facility at West Berkshire Community Hospital. The project has been in development for some time, and thanks to the dedication of everyone involved, we’ve reached this exciting milestone. This new unit will help us to deliver faster and more efficient care to our patients across Berkshire West. This piece of work exemplifies our commitment in bringing care closer to home for our patients. I also wanted to express my sincere thanks to the four charities who generously donated over £2 million for the two MRI scanners and have made this a reality”.

Dr Rob Tayton said: “This project demonstrates outstanding collaboration between the NHS and local charities to enhance facilities at West Berkshire Community Hospital. Thanks to the dedication of all, this will provide more superb equipment to improve diagnostic abilities in the local area for our patients. I would like to thank the four donors for providing the necessary funds to purchase the state-of-the-art MRI machines. West Berkshire Community Hospital continues to grow and remains one of the UK’s leading community hospitals.”