Procured under the ProCure 23 (P23) framework for the design and construction of NHS capital projects, the new £26m CDC will provide quicker access to diagnostic tests. The new facility was officially opened by Cllr Janet Whitehouse, Mayor of Epping. Guests at the ceremony included MPs, councillors, and GPs, as well as representatives from NHS England, Morgan Sindall, the project team, and wider stakeholders.
Construction work is continuing on a £6m extension to the CDC which is due to be completed in early 2027. This further development will accommodate the fibro scanner to check for liver inflammation, an additional ultrasound, X-ray, and space for trans-nasal endoscopy.
To create the CDC, Morgan Sindall refurbished and added an extension to a bungalow on the St Margaret’s Hospital site. The building now houses outpatient services as well as the capacity to provide MRI scans, X-rays, and non-obstetric (non-pregnancy) ultrasounds.
As part of its Intelligent Solutions approach to sustainable construction, Morgan Sindall utilised the digital carbon analysis tool CarboniCa during the project. This informed carbon-related decisions throughout the design and construction phases to minimise the development’s emissions.
Ryan Liversage, area director for Morgan Sindall Construction in Essex, said: “Celebrating the new St Margaret’s Community Diagnostic Centre officially opening its doors is an exciting moment, as we know this facility will bring a wide range of crucial healthcare benefits right to the doorstep of the community.
“Combining our team’s extensive experience delivering in medical environments with a close, collaborative relationship with The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust has been central to the project’s success. This has allowed us to create a facility that is tailored to the multifaceted needs of the Trust, its patients, and the local area.”
Thom Lafferty, chief executive of The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust, added: “The CDC is just the start of our ongoing commitment to provide integrated care to our community, closer to home, which will be truly transformative for the population we serve in the years ahead.”