Canvey Island Primary Care Centre, owned by Community Health Partnerships (CHP), has re-opened following a major revamp of its X-ray facilities.
The centre now provides a new state-of-the-art X-ray machine on the ground floor with two accessible changing areas.
There will also be additional outpatient clinics on the ground floor and a modernised physiotherapy suite, maximising clinical space, providing care closer to home, and reducing travel time for patients to hospitals off Canvey Island.
Having key services in one updated building is better for residents, who can use this as a hub for some of their diagnostic tests and treatments.
In the past, patients would have to leave the island for X-rays.
The £981,000 revamp is phase one of a planned three-stage project to develop a health and care hub for the local population across Canvey Island, delivering local services to improve health outcomes, especially for older people.
The second phase will improve facilities and utilisation within the building for the GP teams on the first floor.
And the third phase will create a collaborative health and care hub, working with the Castle Point Borough Council teams.
The vision is focused on reforming the health and social care agenda as outlined in the NHS Long Term Plan and is in line with the Mid and South Essex ICB Estates Strategy, which identifies Canvey PCC as a priority site for investment.
Jonathan Dunk, chief commercial officer for Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust, said: “I am thrilled that the X-Ray machine is now re-opening on Canvey as I know many residents have been eagerly waiting for this news.
“Along with the other new additional services being offered at the centre, it will make a huge difference to people right across the borough accessing these vital services, reducing waiting times, allowing more tests to take place, and, most importantly, all happening closer to home.”