Bayo Alaba, MP for Southend East and Rochford, David Burton-Sampson, MP for Southend West and Leigh, and Councillor Maxine Sadza, cabinet member for social care and healthier communities were shown around Southend community diagnostic centre (CDC), which is due to open its doors to patients early next year.

James Currell, acting divisional director, clinical and support services division at Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust, said: ‘It's incredible to see the building taking shape and knowing what a difference this will make to the community in just a few short months.

‘Southend is the second of four CDCs opening across mid and south Essex, which are all about making access to diagnostic tests more convenient; and supporting patients to get the right care quickly, in a place, and at a time that's convenient for them. We're already seeing the difference this is making at our centre in Thurrock, and we look forward to Southend doing the same once it opens in the new year.'

Once fully open, the centre is expected to deliver more than 30,000 extra diagnostic appointments a year, including x-rays and heart and lung tests.

The Southend CDC is part of a national initiative to expand diagnostic capacity and bring services closer to home. Thurrock CDC opened in September with two other centres currently in development in Braintree and Pitsea.