THE NHS is preparing to press ahead with its plans for a huge new community diagnostic centre at Southend’s Victoria shopping centre in a determined effort to slash post-pandemic waiting lists and speed up treatment.

James Moyies, Southend Conservative councillor responsible for public health, is hopeful the new centre - which will have the capacity to deliver up to 24,180 tests and scans a year - will soon become reality.

He said the NHS will present its plans for the Victoria Shopping Centre to Southend Council this month and a decision will be made early next year.

The Government announced plans back in August to create 13 new “community diagnostic centres nationally” and the shopping centre in Southend High Street was touted as a location by Sir James Duddridge, Rochford and Southend East MP.

With state-of-the-art equipment, the centre aims to help increase diagnostic capacity and provide ultrasound, echo-cardiography, respiratory and blood tests and scans, while slashing waiting times.

Mr Moyies: “It’s great news, and I 100 per cent welcome and back this initiative.

“It means people will be able to get tests done early and quickly and, hopefully, start treatment as quick as possible.

“I’m all in favour of this initiative, and I hope it gets signed off.”

The Victoria Shopping Centre was bought by Southend Council for £10million in December 2020 and has since introduced a blood test centre in a bid to relieve pressure on the hospital.

Mr Moyies added: “It’s looking pretty hopeful.

“There’s a business case being put forward in December, and we’ll know by early January if it’s going ahead or not.

“The local NHS will put forward a case to the national NHS and, hopefully, sign it off.

“This will be commissioned by the NHS.”

“I hope we’ll see more services being available in the community so people don’t have to travel to the hospital, and this will help free up waiting lists.”