Building a Scalable Future of Health and Care in Slough.

Slough is reimagining the future of health and social care. Positioned at the intersection of innovation, connectivity, and community, the borough is primed to become a leading testbed for new models of integrated care delivery. Slough’s unique assets, from its geographic location near Heathrow and London to its diverse, young, and growing population, make it an ideal environment to pilot scalable healthcare solutions.

Slough’s Vision

Slough has an established Health and Care Plan as part of a broader effort to improve good health and care outcomes and reduce inequalities across the borough. As part of this vision, Slough invites businesses working in digital health and life sciences to play a role. The borough provides space for companies to collaborate, trial new technologies, and accelerate the development of solutions aimed at improving care delivery. Slough Council is ready to support companies looking to bring their expertise to the area, offering the infrastructure and local partnerships needed to help turn ideas into impact.

Pat Hayes, Executive Director of Housing, Property, and Regeneration at Slough Borough Council says: “We’re building a health and care ecosystem that matches the ambition of the borough: one that is diverse, dynamic, and ready to lead. By bringing together public services, private enterprise, and cutting-edge technology, Slough is setting the stage for real innovation that can not only position Slough as a leader but also scale beyond our borders.”

Integrated Care in Action

One of the most significant investments in this future-forward approach is the development of a state-of-the-art Community Diagnostic Centre (CDC) at the Upton Hospital site. Backed by a £25 million investment and led by Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust, the new centre is in development and due to open in time for Christmas 2025. Once operational, it will be able to deliver up to 150,000 additional diagnostic tests each year, helping to reduce waiting lists and improve early detection of a range of health conditions.

The CDC will operate seven days a week for 12 hours each day, offering a full suite of diagnostic services including MRI, CT, ultrasound, X-rays, blood tests, and cardiopulmonary diagnostics. This enhanced access means local residents in Slough, Windsor, and East Berkshire can receive vital testing closer to home and more quickly, improving outcomes and easing pressure on acute hospital services.

In line with the borough’s innovation ambitions, the CDC is designed to be flexible and future-proof, supporting integrated care delivery alongside digital innovation. It represents the future and is a catalyst for transformation, enabling new models of community-based, technology-enabled healthcare.

Health and Life Sciences in Slough

Slough already boasts a strong foundation in healthcare tech and life sciences, with major global players choosing to base operations in the borough. Lonza, a leader in biopharmaceutical manufacturing, operates a cutting-edge facility in Slough supporting early-phase clinical development of life-saving therapies. Pharmaceutical giants such as GSK also has a presence in the area, driving forward research in areas like immunology and neurology. Meanwhile, digital health innovation is gaining momentum through projects like remote hypertension monitoring with local GP surgeries and diagnostics initiatives led by Frimley Health. The combination of high-quality talent, research excellence, and collaborative infrastructure means Slough is not just preparing for the future of health, it’s already building it.