New Addington has some of the highest health inequalities in Croydon and across London
17:47, 15 Jan 2026Updated 15:22, 16 Jan 2026
Life expectancy for women in New Addington is 14 years shorter than in Sanderstead which is just three miles away(Image: Facundo Arrizabalaga/MyLondon)
Residents of New Addington now have easier access to vital health services with the opening of a new Community Diagnostic Centre (CDC). The facility, officially opened on Thursday (January 15) is located near the area’s main shopping parade and is part of a £14 million investment by Croydon NHS Trust.
New Addington has long faced some of the highest health inequalities in Croydon and across England. According to data from NHS Croydon Clinical Commissioning Group, women in the Fieldway ward have a life expectancy 14 years shorter than women in Sanderstead, just three miles away.
The new CDC aims to address these health inequalities through early diagnosis, prevention, and locally accessible care. Secretary of State for Health and Social Care Wes Streeting officially opened the facility on Thursday, after it was soft-launched in October.
Natasha Irons MP and Wes Streeting MP attended the official opening of the new Community Diagnostic Centre in New Addington(Image: Natasha Irons MP)
“I was delighted to open Croydon’s new Community Diagnostic Centre today,” said Mr Streeting. “This facility brings quicker, more convenient tests and scans right into the heart of the community—meaning people can get the care they need closer to home.”
Local MP Natasha Irons also welcomed the development for her Croydon East constituency. She said: “I’m thrilled that my constituents in New Addington now have access to vital diagnostic services on their doorstep.
“This centre means earlier diagnoses and faster treatment, and it is a significant step towards addressing long-standing health inequalities in the area.”
The Chief Executive of Croydon Health Services NHS Trust, Matthew Kershaw, added: “By bringing high-quality diagnostic tests closer to where our patients live, we are making it easier to get checked earlier and diagnose conditions faster, meaning treatment can begin sooner than if they had to travel to one of our other sites.”
The centre on Chertsey Crescent was built on former council land and is part of efforts to make better use of local assets while also taking pressure off Croydon University Hospital.
Mayor Jason Perry said the opening of the Community Diagnostics Centre was an example of collaborative working (Image: Croydon Conservatives)
The new centre provides a wide range of diagnostic tests, including X-rays, CT scans, and ultrasounds, along with cardiology and respiratory services. An on-site GP practice is also available, with blood tests already offered through GPs and full phlebotomy services expected to start in May.
Croydon Mayor Jason Perry also visited the centre today, alongside Civic Mayor Richard Chaterjee and Cabinet Member Cllr Yvette Hopley. Mayor Perry said the new facility exemplified the partnership between the council, Croydon Health Services NHS Trust, and the local community.
The opening comes alongside other planned improvements in New Addington. Residents in the north of the area will benefit from £20 million over the next ten years through the Government’s Pride in Place programme, aimed at enhancing high streets and boosting community safety.
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