PITSEA is to be the location of one of six new community diagnostic centres (CDCs) which are part of the Government's strategy to cut waiting lists.

Local MP Stephen Metcalfe has welcomed the news the new centre will open in August and will provide up to 46,000 tests, checks andscans a year.

It will boost the number of endoscopy rooms in the region for cancer patients and offer potentially life-saving CT and MRI scans.

Backed by £2.3 billion in government funding, CDCs are based in convenient locations such as shopping centres, football stadiums and existing hospital or GP sites.

The government aims to deliver up to 160 CDCs across England by 2025.

Following a referral from a GP or consultant, patients will be able to get their symptoms checked much closer to home and receive a diagnosis for a range of conditions such as cancer and heart or lung disease, rather than travelling to hospital.

Mr Metcalfe said: "It is fantastic to see a new facility for the area. Community diagnostic centres are more convenient for patients and more efficient for the NHS.

"If we are going to cut the waiting lists that have increased since the pandemic, these centres are the way to do it."