'Transformative' diagnostic centre officially opens

The centre, which officially opened on Thursday, has been operational for a couple of months

A new community diagnostic centre (CDC) which aims to cut NHS waiting times for people across north Kent has been officially opened.

The North Kent Community Diagnostic Centre, co-located with the Livingstone Community Hospital in Dartford, replaces the temporary building in use since late 2023.

Dr Tom Clark, chief medical officer at the Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust, said the CDC had already improved patient care, having been operational for a couple of months.

"We're seeing a much quicker access to important diagnostic tests, so these are things such as blood tests, X-rays, CT scans, MRIs," he told BBC Radio Kent.

Health minister Karin Smyth said the launch was "really uplifting"

Dr Clark said the wait time for a "routine MRI scan" had been cut in half, from six to three weeks.

The new facility, which is expected to deliver up to 130,000 additional tests annually, was officially launched by health minister Karin Smyth on Thursday.

"This centre is transformative for people here [in north Kent]," she told BBC South East.

"Bringing care into the community, getting down those waiting lists, these centres are a critical part of that."

The Labour MP described the unveiling as "really uplifting".

She said: "Staff are working in the most appalling conditions in many parts of the country.

"They don't have the tools to do the job that they want to do, but here they've got those tools, they've got those facilities, and that's palpable change for patients as well."

Dartford MP Jim Dickson, who also attended the launch, said: "People in Dartford have busy lives, and this centre is a response to that - backed by a government determined to offer healthcare that fits around people's lives and meets patients where they are."

Livingstone Community Hospital received a share of a £2.3bn government investment fund to create the new facility for Dartford, Gravesham and Swanley.