A new Community Diagnostic Centre (CDC) has opened at St Margaret’s Hospital, with the first patient welcomed today (16 March).
The centre will provide a range of diagnostic services including cardiology, respiratory testing and imaging diagnostics such as CT, MRI and ultrasound scans. The new facility is designed to help patients access important tests more quickly and closer to home.
The opening marks an important step in improving access to diagnostic services for local communities, helping to reduce waiting times and support earlier diagnosis and treatment.
Expanded diagnostic services and equipment
The CDC at St Margaret’s Hospital includes new equipment and extended opening hours to increase the number of tests available for patients.
Services and facilities include:
- Two additional computerised tomography (CT) scanners
- Extended opening hours for X-ray services
- New ultrasound equipment
- New cardiology diagnostic equipment
- New respiratory diagnostic equipment
- A new MRI scanner
- Additional phlebotomy capacity to increase the number of blood tests available
Further diagnostic capacity is also being provided at Herts and Essex Hospital as part of the CDC programme. This includes extended hours for ultrasound, X-ray and audiology services, as well as additional capacity for non-obstetric (non-pregnancy) ultrasound and hearing tests.
All CDC services at both hospitals are available by appointment only and are not walk-in services.
New clinical pathways for faster diagnosis
The new centre will also support streamlined clinical care pathways designed to help patients access tests and specialist assessment more quickly.
These pathways will support diagnosis and monitoring for a range of conditions, including:
- Breathlessness
- Children and young people’s asthma
- Unscheduled bleeding while using hormone replacement therapy (HRT)
- Liver health surveillance checks
- Rapid access care for chest pain
- Palpitations
- Sleep studies
- Trans-nasal endoscopy of the upper gastrointestinal tract
- Urology diagnostics focused on prostate conditions
Construction work will continue on an extension to the CDC site in the coming months. This will create additional space for further diagnostic services including a fibroscanner to check for liver inflammation, an additional ultrasound and X-ray facility, and dedicated space for trans-nasal endoscopy procedures.
I am delighted to see the St Margaret’s Community Diagnostic Centre ready to welcome its first patient.
Dr Monica Bose, Divisional Director of Planned Pathways, Princess Alexandra Hospital
Our CDC will significantly improve care for our patients, with quicker and more local access to diagnostic tests and treatment close to patients’ homes.
The St Margaret’s Community Diagnostic Centre is integral to our vision for neighbourhood health, with more integrated care for our community, closer to home.
Thom Lafferty, Chief Executive, Princess Alexandra Hospital
Welcoming our first patient is a pivotal moment and marks the beginning of our plans to transform care for our community in the coming years.
The centre’s official opening ceremony is planned for Friday 8 May.
Expanding diagnostic services across Essex
The St Margaret’s CDC is part of the national NHS programme to increase diagnostic capacity and improve access to tests such as scans, heart checks and other investigations.
Across Essex, further centres are being developed to support faster diagnosis and treatment. CDC’s have already opened in Thurrock and Southend, with additional centres currently under construction in Braintree and Pitsea.
By bringing services into community locations, CDCs aim to help diagnose conditions earlier, reduce pressure on hospital sites and make it easier for people to access care locally.