Preparatory work has officially begun for the construction of a new Community Diagnostic Centre (CDC) at St Margaret's Hospital in Epping, as part of The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust's (PAHT) efforts to improve access to diagnostic tests closer to patients’ homes.

PAHT has appointed Morgan Sindall Construction as the contractor for the project, which will provide faster and more local access to vital diagnostic services. The initial phase involves establishing the site boundary and preparing the North Bungalow building at the Spencer Close site. The local community will notice hoarding around the hospital as work progresses.

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The main construction work is set to begin this month (December), with the CDC expected to open in December 2025. Once completed, the facility will offer extended opening hours and additional equipment to support an increase in diagnostic capacity, including:

• Two additional computerised tomography (CT) scanners

• Extended hours for X-ray services

• New ultrasound equipment

• New cardiology equipment

• New respiratory equipment

• A relocated MRI scanner

• More phlebotomists to increase the number of blood tests

The new CDC will also provide expanded services at Herts and Essex Hospital in Bishop's Stortford, including extended hours for ultrasound, X-ray, and audiology. Additional capacity will be introduced for non-obstetric (non-pregnancy) ultrasound and audiology, as well as more X-ray hours.

This development is part of PAHT's ongoing efforts to enhance local healthcare services and reduce waiting times for patients by bringing essential diagnostic services closer to home.