It’s been described as the ‘second largest of its kind in the UK’
Project – Senior bosses at the site of new Pitsea Community Diagnostic Centre(Image: LDRS)
Patients will be treated by doctors at a new medical centre, which is the “second largest of its kind in the UK”, next August, – NHS bosses have said.
Ground works are continuing, following demolition, at the site of the new Pitsea Community Diagnostic Centre at Northlands Pavement, Pitsea, which is due to open in summer 2027.
Diggers and a towering piling rig are hitting the ground at the site of the former The Place leisure and activity centre at the site which closed in May 2024. The Local Democracy Reporting Service was given an exclusive look of the site and interview on February 17.
James Currell, divisional director for clinical support services at Mid and South Essex NHS Trust called it the “second largest of its kind in the UK.” He added: “It will have a massive difference in the area, people will be diagnosed and treated quicker. It’s very exciting stuff. When it’s open there will be about 75 NHS staff, as well as other workers and teams on the site.
(Image: LDRS)
“This project has been ongoing since 2015, now we’ve found the optimum site and it’s about the long term opportunities, including better health care in the area. It will also offer state of the art cancer testing for patients.”
It will also include a new library, craft rooms, both for Essex County Council, and two rooms for community groups and Basildon Borough Council. Module units will be made off site in Hull and delivered to the Pitsea construction site in the summer.
Mr Currell added it’s the first time such a project has included local authorities. It comes as works are ongoing for a private hospital, offering NHS services, in Basildon’s Eastgate Shopping Centre. The NHS boss said: “We are going to see more work with independent organisations in the health care sector, as these firms can offer more support and capacity at times. It’s all very exciting.”
The project sees about 170 jobs on site each day. Once completed the health centre will see 120,000 extra patient appointments each year. It will be open every day and 12 hours each day. It is in the town centre of Pitsea next to homes and shops, with bosses insisting this shows it’s the right location.