AMBITIOUS plans to bring a new diagnostic centre to Southend have been delayed until next year, the Echo can reveal.

The Government announced plans back in August to create 13 new “community diagnostic centres nationally”.

It had been hoped plans would begin moving forward early this year but plans have only now gone out for procurement.

Victoria Shopping Centre in Southend High Street was touted as a location by Sir James Duddridge, Rochford and Southend East MP.

But the Echo understands no location has been agreed and doubt has been cast on the centre being an option.

Once up and running it is hoped the centre will increase diagnostic capacity and provide ultrasound, echo-cardiography, respiratory and blood tests and scans while slashing wait times.

The NHS has confirmed that the plan has just gone out for procurement to find an independent provider, with it likely to open in spring 2025.

Matthew Hopkins, chief executive of Mid and South Essex Trust, said: “The Southend Community Diagnostic Centre is in the procurement phase, and we are looking for an independent provider to offer this service.

“In the meantime, we will be offering some extra tests in the community, including echocardiogram and ultrasound, while we wait for the centre to be finalised.”

The NHS have also said that they will announce the independent provider as soon as possible, with it understood the diagnostic centre will likely not be in a new-build.

Southend Southchurch Tory Councillor, Daniel Nelson, hopes the issues are resolved quickly and added that “Southend deserves a health offering deserving of a city”.

He said: “I hope these delays are resolved quickly, I have said before that we need a health offering that is deserving of a city and at the moment, I don’t feel we are getting that.

“I believe it is the council’s responsibility to fight for that, we are not a city to be used as a downgrade only option, we must be seen as a 21st century city, we should only ever look to be upgraded.”

Mr Nelson added that: “We are a growing city, the capital of south Essex and we have the densest population and the most health issues, we need to host these major health infrastructure projects.”