We are celebrating a major milestone with the completion of the roof of the Community Diagnostic Centre (CDC) at St Margaret’s Hospital, Epping.
Colleagues from PAHT and local health and care partners visited the CDC for a special topping out ceremony today (Friday 6 June) to mark the occasion.
It was also an opportunity for a tour of the site, where construction work is underway, and for partners to meet with Thom Lafferty, chief executive, Tom Burton, chief finance and infrastructure officer, Martin John, New Hospital Programme director, and the CDC project team.
The Community Diagnostic Centre programme is part of our plans to support quicker and more local access to diagnostic tests close to patients’ homes.
Construction work at the St Margaret’s Hospital site is progressing well. The CDC building is due for completion in December 2025, with the first patient planned for January 2026.
There will be extended opening times and additional equipment at the St Margaret’s Hospital CDC to support the current additional capacity being provided for MRI scans, X-rays and non-obstetric (non-pregnancy) ultrasounds, including:
- Two additional computerised tomography (CT) scanners;
- Extended hours for X-rays;
- New ultrasound equipment;
- New cardiology equipment;
- New respiratory equipment;
- Relocated MRI scanner; and
- More phlebotomists to be recruited – increasing the number of blood tests that can be carried out
Additionally, as part of the CDC programme, the services provided at Herts and Essex Hospital, Bishop’s Stortford, include extended hours for ultrasound, X-ray and audiology. Additional capacity for non-obstetric (non-pregnancy) ultrasound and audiology are currently being provided, together with additional hours for X-ray.
Thom Lafferty, chief executive at PAHT, said: “Thank you to everyone who joined us for the ceremony at this pivotal moment as our Community Diagnostic Centre (CDC) really starts to take shape.
“It was an excellent opportunity to focus on the fantastic benefits that the CDC will bring for our patients and the asset this will be for our community.
“We are proud to work with our partners on further integrating care for our community and responding to local population health need, with quicker and more local access to diagnostic tests for our patients.”
Pictured: Thom Lafferty, chief executive (back row, fourth from right); Tom Burton, chief finance and infrastructure officer (back row, far right); Martin John, New Hospital Programme director (back row, third from right), Cllr Kaz Rizvi, Community Health and Wellbeing Portfolio Holder, Epping Forest District Council (front row, sixth from right); and the CDC project team and partners.