THURROCK'S new Community Diagnostic Centre (CDC) opened its doors in the past week, bringing quicker access to vital tests and scans for local residents – without the need to go to hospital.

It's a phased opening, already seeing ultrasound, X-ray, echocardiogram and CT and MRI scan patients, with almost 400 appointments in its first week.

Located on the Thurrock Community Hospital site in Long Lane, Grays, the state-of-the-art facility is set to deliver more than 75,000 additional diagnostic appointments every year, significantly reducing waiting times and supporting faster diagnosis for patients across the area.

Open seven days a week, the centre offers a wide range of services, including MRI and CT scans, X-rays, ultrasounds, heart and lung checks, and blood tests – all under one roof, and in a central, convenient location.

After recent criticism of the trust's performance levels, including a damning critique of its children's services and the need to slash operational budgets, the opening has been a rare piece of upbeat news for the Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust (MSE).

One of the first people to be working in the new building is radiology admin manager Alison Pankhurst, who said: "It's great working somewhere so new and so fresh, you can see how much hard work has gone into the whole building, which makes us feel really valued.

"It's really nice working here knowing that I had some input into the layout of the reception and is just lovely seeing it go from a building site through to now.

"Patients are already coming in and telling us how beautiful it all is, inside and out, so it's a huge morale boost for them and us. They even love the new armchairs they are waiting in, telling us they are really comfortable, so those little touches really make the difference to patients as well.

The CDC is part of a major national initiative to move diagnostic care out of hospitals and into the community, helping to ease pressure on acute services such as Basildon Hospital, where many of these tests would otherwise be carried out.

The centres are not a walk-in service, patients are referred to the CDC by their GP and will receive a timed appointment – helping make sure care is coordinated, quickly and efficiently.

James Curell, acting divisional director for clinical and support services at MSE said: "It's been exciting to welcome our first patients, Community Diagnostic Centres like this are set to make a big difference. By bringing care into our communities, we're taking pressure off our hospitals and offering patients a faster, more convenient experience.

"This is just the first step towards a more modern, responsive local health system – putting patients first, and care where it's needed most. We've three more centres which are going to open across mid and south Essex, providing us with some of the best diagnostic provision for patients in the region.

"Other planned CDC sites include Southend (late 2025), Braintree (2026) and Pitsea (2026/27). Together, these centres will create a network of diagnostic hubs designed to catch health issues earlier, improve patient outcomes, and streamline the journey through the NHS."