Southend’s new £1.2m Community Diagnostic Centre (CDC), delivered by construction firm Morgan Sindall under a NHS framework, has officially opened in the former Argos unit at the Victoria Shopping Centre.
The Southend CDC, part of a wider £60m programme of upgrades across mid and south Essex, is operated by Thrive Health Hubs in partnership with the Trust.
The centre was delivered under the ProCure23 framework, with Morgan Sindall selected to deliver six projects across the region.
“It is great to announce this latest raft of projects, which we will be delivering as part of the ProCure23 framework with the NHS across mid and south Essex,” said Peter Whitmore, Managing Director for Morgan Sindall Construction in the East.
The Southend CDC is expected to provide 30,000 additional diagnostic appointments per year, easing pressure on hospital services.
The facility began seeing patients earlier this month and offers an extensive range of services including X‑rays, ultrasounds, heart assessments, and more than 400 tests were carried out in its first two weeks.
Other projects being delivered under the £60m programme
The largest projects under the £60m programme to upgrade services across mid and south Essex are the Southend CDC, a surgical hub, and the Pitsea CDC.
Morgan Sindall is delivering an elective surgery hub at Southend University Hospital, which will include new surgical theatres as part of the same regional programme.
Meanwhile, the Pitsea CDC is currently under construction by MTX Contracts on the site of the former Pitsea Leisure Centre.
The Pitsea project has involved full demolition of the existing facility and the creation of a new CDC.
Expected to open in spring 2027, the Pitsea CDC will feature MRI and CT scanning suites, X‑ray machines, a pharmacy, ultrasound and consultancy rooms, a phlebotomy area, and community amenities such as a library and sporting facilities.
Both CDCs form part of the NHS’s wider push to expand community-based diagnostic services, improving accessibility and reducing waiting times for local patients while supporting a broader hospital recovery plan.
Featured companies
- Companies:
- Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust
- Morgan Sindall Construction