A "ONE-stop shop" medical centre is set to open in Pitsea offering blood tests, heart checks and a host of other services to patients across south Essex.

Services will include endoscopy, blood tests and lung and heart checks, as well as CT, MRI, ultrasound scans and X-ray.

The centre will be a "one-stop shop" for checks, tests and scans, however it will not offer treatment.

Sam Gascoyne, Conservative councillor for Pitsea North West, said: "It's very early days yet. I wasn't aware of any immediate plans for anything to happen but obviously improving healthcare access, especially in Basildon and Pitsea, I think is an exciting opportunity for Pitsea.

"Assuming this comes to fruition, I would say that this could be a positive step for the area but I must stress as it's so early on and waiting for funding I would want to just see what happens, but this does seem like a positive development for Pitsea if it does materialise."

A Trust report said Pitsea was chosen as a "central location". It added: "Community diagnostic centres will deliver new ways of working, increasing diagnostic capacity so we can provide earlier diagnosis and ultimately treatment for patients. This will improve health outcomes."

The scheme is part of a drive to separate emergency and elective care which the board says "will improve patient experience, reduce the number of cancelled clinics, and ensure patients are seen in a setting that is most appropriate to meet their care and diagnostic needs".

It is one of 40 such centres across the UK aimed at diverting patients away from hospitals, allowing them to treat urgent patients, while the community diagnostic centres focus on tackling the backlog. Funding for two smaller centres at Thurrock and Braintree has been agreed.