Bridgwater Diagnostic Centre is part of the Government's drive to expand community diagnostic centres across England.

Health minister Karin Smyth said: ‘Community diagnostic centres like this one are a vital part of how we're rebuilding the NHS and getting people seen on time again. More of these will soon be opening across the country through our £237m investment in new, expanded and enhanced centres just like this.'

The centre was developed by Somerset NHS Foundation Trust as part of its long-standing managed service partnership with Ergéa UK, and forms part of a national programme to increase diagnostic capacity, support earlier diagnosis and reduce waiting times for patients.

Offering MRI and CT capacity, as well as Somerset's first urology investigation unit, the centre is expected to provide almost 25,000 additional scans every year for people across Bridgwater and the wider Somerset area.

The development builds on the success of Somerset's community diagnostic centre programme, which began with the opening of a diagnostic centre in Taunton in 2021 and has since expanded across the county, including the opening of the Yeovil Diagnostic Centre earlier this year.

The centre will also play a wider role in improving access to planned care services outside of traditional hospital settings.

Later this year, Somerset NHS Foundation Trust will open a dedicated urology investigations unit within the building, bringing together a range of outpatient appointments, tests and procedures in one purpose-designed environment.

The development will help many patients access more joined-up care and reduce the need to attend multiple appointments across different hospital sites.