Braintree Community Diagnostic Centre Officially Opens

New facility aims to provide 75,000 additional diagnostic appointments annually, bringing vital tests closer to home for mid and south Essex residents.

Generic image of a modern healthcare facility entrance.
AI

Generic image of a modern healthcare facility entrance.

The new Braintree Community Diagnostic Centre has officially opened its doors, with community leaders and NHS staff celebrating the milestone that will bring vital diagnostic services closer to residents across mid and south Essex.

The centre, located on the site of Braintree Community Hospital, officially opened today after welcoming its first patients last month. It is expected to provide approximately 75,000 additional diagnostic appointments each year, offering services such as MRI and CT scans, ultrasound, blood tests, and heart and lung checks.
The opening ceremony was attended by various dignitaries, including Cllr Richard van Dulken, Chairman of Braintree District Council, who had the honour of cutting the ribbon. Also present were James Cleverly MP, Cllr Graham Butland, Vice Chairman of Braintree District Council, local councillors, and NHS partners and staff.
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"Today's ceremony is an opportunity to celebrate what this centre means for our patients and communities. By increasing access to diagnostic tests closer to home, we can help people get the answers they need sooner and support earlier diagnosis and treatment."

Julie Smith · Broomfield Hospital Chief Executive at Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust
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"It was a privilege to officially open this fantastic facility. The centre is providing an important service for residents, making it easier for people to access vital diagnostic tests within their community. This investment will benefit people across the district for many years to come and demonstrates what can be achieved when organisations work together to improve services for local communities."

Cllr Richard van Dulken · Chairman, Braintree District Council
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"This Government is working hard to get the NHS on the road to recovery, with waiting lists down since July 2024, and record numbers of diagnostic tests and scans being delivered. But we know there is still a lot more to do. People deserve to get the care they need as quickly and conveniently as possible, which is exactly what this new Community Diagnostic Centre in Braintree will do, delivering an extra 75,000 diagnostic appointments each year. By bringing these services closer to home, we’re making it easier for patients to access vital tests and checks in their local community, transforming how care is delivered and ensuring the NHS is there for everyone where they need it, when they need it."

Alison Gover · Health and Social Care Minister
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"We are delighted to have supported in the delivery of Braintree’s new Community Diagnostic Centre. The extra 75,000 appointments each year will make a huge difference to residents: providing MRI, CT scans, ultrasounds, blood tests and heart and lung checks. We are determined to work with Trusts and Councils alike to deliver excellent neighbourhood health care across England and this is yet another example where NHS Property Services has succeeded in its role to deliver an NHS estate fit for the future."

Paul Jones · Regional Capital Projects Lead at NHS Property Services
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"The opening of Braintree Community Diagnostic Centre is an important step towards making healthcare more accessible for local people. By providing vital diagnostic tests closer to home, we can help patients get the answers they need sooner, reduce unnecessary journeys and support earlier diagnosis and treatment. Centres like this are helping us deliver better, more convenient care for our communities."

Samantha Goldberg · Executive Director of Commissioning at NHS Essex
Braintree is the third of four Community Diagnostic Centres to open across mid and south Essex, with a fourth centre planned for Pitsea in summer 2027. These centres aim to reduce travel to larger hospital sites and support earlier diagnosis and treatment.
Based on information from the official source: Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust (16/10/2026)