The opening ceremony saw the ribbon cut by Bayo Alaba, MP for Southend East and Rochford. Also in attendance was David Burton-Sampson, MP for Southend West, Cllr Maxine Sadza, cabinet member for social care and healthier communities and Cllr Paul Collins, cabinet member for finance, assets and public transport.

Dawn Scrafield, chief executive of Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust, said: ‘Southend CDC opening to patients is a huge moment for the people of mid and south Essex. This centre will make it much easier for people to get the tests they need quickly and at a time and location that works for them.'

Minister of state for health Karin Smyth said: ‘With waiting lists at their lowest in three years, state-of-the-art facilities like this one right here in Southend are playing a major role as we shift more care into the community, cut the backlogs and take the NHS on its road to recovery.'

Since unofficially opening earlier this month, the centre - located in the former Argos unit within the Victoria Shopping Centre – has carried out over 400 tests. Operated by Thrive Health Hubs, the centre will offer 30,000 additional appointments each year.

Southend CDC forms part of a national initiative to expand diagnostic capacity across the country. It follows the opening of the Thurrock CDC in September 2025, with further centres currently under construction in Braintree and Pitsea.