Pitsea Diagnostic Centre to be up and running 'in 18 months'

The Pitsea Diagnostic Centre, planned to be built on the site of the town’s former leisure centre, will offer a range of medical services and tests, such as CT and MRI scans.

It is expected to offer services for about 250,000 people. 

Craig Rimmer, councillor for Pitsea South East, believes the planning application will go before a committee “this month”.

He said: “The centre will improve health outcomes for people in Pitsea but also across the borough and other parts of south Essex.

“In Britain, the last three years of people’s lives are generally unhealthy, compared to the last year in Japan.

“We’re all living longer, but this centre will help us live healthily for longer.”

Dr Sam Gascoyne, councillor for Pitsea North West, hailed it as “a tremendous mega win” for the area.

He said: “I’m very excited about it. It will be an easy-access NHS facility for residents which cuts waiting times and long travels. It is overwhelmingly positive for residents.”

However Dr Gascoyne admits there could be delays even after it gets the green light for planning permission. 

A computer-generated image of the proposed Community Diagnostic Centre in Pitsea. (Image: Mid and South Essex NHS Trust)

He said: “The only possible challenge is that we are in a national building crisis. Rising costs are making it very difficult to get things built.

“But all being well, it will be one of the most amazing major capital investments in Pitsea for a very long time.

Funded as part of a £2.3 billion Community Diagnostic Centre programme, the project is a joint effort between Basildon Council, Essex County Council and the Mid and South Essex NHS Trust.

Mr Gascoyne added: “The NHS is very motivated to get it done as soon as possible, and we have a very high impetus to get it done at the same break-neck speed.

“My understanding is it will take 18 months before it opens, but the usual caveats apply. It may take longer, but we should see it within two years.”