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The Community Diagnostic Centre (CDC) at Finchley Memorial Hospital provides a range of planned diagnostic procedures such as checks, scans and tests which allow patients to be seen quicker and closer to home.
Hosted by the Royal Free London, the centre opened in 2021 to help support efforts to clear the backlog of patients waiting for tests following the COVID-19 pandemic.
We run the following services at the CDC:
- radiology
- ophthalmology
- cardiology
- respiratory services
- phlebotomy
The centre has a dedicated MRI suite on the 1st floor, accessible via the lift and stairs. The mobile MRI scanner is located in the car park.
For CT scans, our fixed CT scanner is located on the ground floor. The mobile CT scanner is situated in the car park.
Our walk-in X-ray service runs Monday to Sunday, from 8am to 8pm.
Ultrasounds are carried out by appointment only. We are now open for GP direct access across north central London.
Watch a video of the MRI scanner being fitted in August 2022
The CDC ophthalmology service provides diagnostic scans for glaucoma and medical retina, and clinics for patients who require long-term monitoring of their condition.
Services are open from Monday to Saturday.
Contact the ophthalmology team:
Tel: 020 8349 7500 ext 27400 or 27404
Email: rf.
The cardiology service provides diagnostic tests such as echocardiograms (EHCO), blood pressure monitoring, loop and halter monitors and electrocardiograms (ECG).
We also run a heart failure clinic which involves patients having an ECHO scan, X-ray, blood test and a review appointment with a cardiologist. This clinic offers direct access for Barnet GPs.
Cardiology ECHO services are available Monday to Sunday, 9am to 5pm.
Patients can be referred to the respiratory service via the NHS e-Referral Service.
We provide a variety of lung function tests including full lung function (including spirometry, gas transfer and lung volume testing), bronchodilator and exhaled nitric oxide tests (FeNO).
Lung function tests are carried out by respiratory physiologists to measure how well your lungs are working, including how well oxygen we breathe in moves to our blood and waste carbon dioxide is breathed out. The tests take around 30 to 45 minutes, depending on the number of tests required.
Your recent medical history will be checked to make sure it is safe to perform the test.
You will then be asked to sit in front of a machine and breathe in and out of a sterile mouthpiece whilst wearing a nose clip. The physiologist will explain these tests to you.
Sleep studies
The sleep study clinic provides devices to check your breathing and heartbeat while you sleep. You will be asked to wear these overnight and then return the device.
Clinics run on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
For booking enquiries, please email: rf-tr.
Microvascular tests
The microvascular service provides nailfold capillaroscopy and thermography tests. The service runs on Fridays.
Blood tests
The blood test service at the CDC is run by Central London Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust.
Patients with a GP referral and form can book an appointment between the following times:
- Monday to Friday: 7am to 8pm
- Saturday and Sunday: 8am to 8pm
Tests can be booked online or via the telephone booking service on tel: 0208 349 7460. This phone is monitored Monday to Friday, 7am to 12 noon.
