HEALTH bosses have moved a step closer to delivering a new state-of-the-art health centre in Southend which hopes to give patients “faster and easier access” to services.

The Mid and South Essex Hospital Trust has confirmed it has completed a search for a provider to run the community diagnostic centre, and is now completing contractual arrangements, adding a location will be announced in November.

While a location is yet to be confirmed, it is widely rumoured to be in the Victoria shopping centre. Southend Council confirmed talks continue with a “potential tenant” but were unable to comment further at this stage.

Paul Collins, councillor for finance, investments and assets, said: “The government is trying to bring services nearer to people so they don’t always have to go to the hospital. It’s a great idea to have it in a central places in the city like the Victoria where people have easy access and also can do other things while they are there.

“We’re fully supportive and it’s a positive step for Southend. It will be good for the Victoria and the city centre as a whole.

“The Victoria is a building we have control over but certainly moving into the city centre regardless is good.”

Once a location has been confirmed, the trust will provide more details on what it will offer as well as a predicted opening date, however, it is hoped the health centre will increase diagnostic capacity and provide ultrasound, echo-cardiography, respiratory and blood tests and scans while slashing wait times.

Owen Richards, chief officer at Healthwatch Southend, also welcomed the progress towards a Southend CDC. He said: “Healthwatch Southend welcomes any moves to provide faster access to diagnostic services, especially in community locations, which are easier to get to.

“Patients are often waiting too long before they start to get information about what might be wrong with them – if anything. But they also need to be able to discuss results with clinicians as soon as possible after an x-ray or ultrasound, and to be admitted if necessary. We need to see investment at the same time in hospital services, otherwise patients are still going to wait too long.

A diagnostics centre is also expected to open in Pitsea in 2026, one of four planned for south Essex. It will offer scans and other diagnostic tests aimed at earlier diagnoses for patients.