Rutherford Diagnostics started work on its headquarters in the £1bn Paddington Village in January and expects to start welcoming its first patients in 2020. Tony McDonough reports

A new £20m advanced medical diagnostics centre being built at Liverpool’s Knowledge Quarter will offer the very latest imaging technology thanks to a deal with global electronics giant Royal Philips.

Rutherford Diagnostics started work on its hi-tech headquarters in the £1bn Paddington Village development in January and expects to start welcoming its first patients in 2020.

Working with both private healthcare organisations and the NHS, the centre will be the first of five across the UK and will specialise in the prediction, prevention and earliest possible detection of disease.

It will be equipped to conduct the most complex of diagnostic tests across a wide range of conditions and will also offer high energy proton beam therapy to cancer patients.

The 10-year collaboration with Philips will utilise the company’s radiology technology and Rutherford Diagnostics’ healthcare expertise in building and operating diagnostic centres in a major boost to healthcare in the region.

It will see both companies working in partnership to deliver first class, patient-centered diagnostic services. It is expected the new partnership will help expand access to diagnostic services for local patients.  

Dr Steven Powell, chief executive of Rutherford Diagnostics, said: “Our focus is to change the current healthcare paradigm from a reactive model which responds to disease, to one that is proactive and preventative with far reaching long-term benefits.

“Our purpose built centres are focused around the patient experience, using the latest technologies, operated by highly skilled clinical experts.

“We required a strategic partner who will complement our diagnostic service offering with technological innovation. Philips is closely aligned to our vision and can manage complexity while remaining flexible and is the right partner to support us on this journey.”

Rutherford was established to fulfil the unmet national demand for screening services: PET CT, MRI, CT, ultrasound and endoscopy, helping to take away pressure on current services and improve patient outcomes.

Stephen McMillan, solutions lead for Philips in the UK, said: “We believe this partnership with Rutherford Diagnostics is an opportunity to deliver a truly patient-centric diagnostic service with high levels of staff satisfaction.

“Philips already has a number of innovative managed service agreements with NHS partners here in the UK, so this is an exciting expansion of this service for us, as we partner with our first private provider.”