A Southend MP has revealed huge plans for Southend's Victoria shopping centre today.

The Government announced plans for 13 new community diagnostic centres (CDCs) to be opened across England, eight of which will be operated by the private sector.

One of these private facilities will be in Southend.

And the Southend Community Diagnostics Centre will be open from November this year, Southend East and Rochford MP Sir James Duddridge has revealed.

With state-of-the-art equipment, the centre aims to help increase diagnostic capacity and provide ultrasound, echocardiography, respiratory and phlebotomy tests and scans.

The Government says these centres are vital to meeting their ambition for 95 per cent of patients who need a diagnostic test to receive it within six weeks by March 2025.

It is expected that the centre in Southend will have the capacity to deliver up to 24,180 tests and scans a year, which will help cut the local backlog for elective and cancer diagnosis.

Sir James has welcomed the delivery of a brand-new Community Diagnostics Centre in the Victoria Shopping Centre.

He said: “It is fantastic that we are getting a Community Diagnostics Centre in the city centre, allowing residents to get tests and scans closer to their homes.

“By working closely with the independent sector to utilise spare capacity, patients will be able to receive the care they need quicker, all while helping clear the backlog.”