Pitsea's Community Diagnostic Centre (CDC) is a step closer as Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust take ownership of The Place, Pitsea, and the neighbouring library ready to start construction.

Demolition of the current site will start in early 2025 making way for a state-of-the-art CDC, which will bring essential healthcare services to the south Essex area. 

The two-storey building, which is due to open in late 2026, will be a hub for the local community, with wellbeing services, a brand-new activity centre and library. The programme is a partnership between Essex County Council, Basildon Council and Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust. Community services havetemporarily moved to other locations while the build is going on.

Pitsea CDC will be the largest in mid and south Essex. Home to an eight-room endoscopy unit, CT and MRI scanning facilities it will improve access to critical diagnostic services in the region. Patients will be offered test and scan appointments sooner, leading to earlier detection and diagnosis and improved health outcomes for the local community.

Katie Arnold, Portfolio Director for Commercial at Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust, said: "Pitsea is one of four CDCs we're developing in the mid and south Essex area. The centres willallow us to see our patients more quickly and improve the care they receive. At the Pitsea CDC alone we'll be able to offer more than 120,000 additional scans per year, in a place that can be easily accessed by our patients."

Cllr Mark Durham, Cabinet Member for The Arts, Heritage and Culture at Essex County Council, said: "Pitsea Library and The Place will transform into an exciting new community hub to accommodate the diagnostic centre. In the meantime, library lot no services will continue to be provided at the neighbouring Vange library."

Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust is leading on the programme with the Mid and South Essex Integrated Care System (MSEICS). The MSEICS has a wider estates programme, which is looking to enhance and increase health and care facilities for local people.

A public engagement event will be held in spring 2025, with details shared on the Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust website: www.mse.nhs.uk/have-your-say.