Rutherford Diagnostics is building the facility which, using the latest technology, will allow the prediction, prevention and earliest possible detection of disease

Work has started on a £20m advanced medical diagnostics centre in Liverpool’s £2bn Knowledge Quarter (KQ Liverpool).

Rutherford Diagnostics is building the facility which, using the latest technology, will allow the prediction, prevention and earliest possible detection of disease, as well as being equipped to conduct the most complex of diagnostic tests across a wide range of conditions.

And, working with both private healthcare organisations and the NHS, it will also high energy proton beam therapy to cancer patients. It will be the first in a network of centres, will address the significant shortage of diagnostic provision in the UK resulting in patients waiting weeks for test results.

The turf cutting event for the project, part of Liverpool’s Paddington Village scheme, was led by chief executive of Proton Partners International (owner of Rutherford Diagnostics) Mike Moran, Liverpool Mayor Joe Anderson, chief diagnostic officer for Rutherford Dr Steven Powell and Professor Dame Janet Beer, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Liverpool and Chair of KQ Liverpool.

The ceremony took place exactly a year to the day since the turf cutting of the Rutherford Cancer Centre North West just a few yards away.

Mr Moran said: “Once complete this centre will represent a true step change in the way diseases are detected and treated. Britain’s approach to healthcare is unfortunately very reactionary, often responding to diseases when they have reached an advanced stage.

“We hope to turn that around using personalised screening and advanced diagnostic technologies.”