The North Kent Community Diagnostic Centre (CDC) has officially opened on Thursday 16 October 2025, marking the completion of a new permanent, high-tech facility that replaces the temporary diagnostic building which has been serving patients since November 2023.
The new purpose-built centre provides a modern, spacious and fully equipped home for diagnostic services for the Dartford, Gravesham and Swanley populations. Delivered as part of the national Community Diagnostic Centre programme, backed by Government investment, the facility enables more tests and checks to be carried out closer to home, helping to reduce waiting times, speed up diagnoses and relieve pressure on busy hospital sites.
The opening counted with the visit from Gravesham MP Lauren Sullivan, Dartford MP Jim Dickson and Minister Karin Smyth, who were thrilled to see our permanent facility in action. During the visit, they toured the new diagnostic suites and spoke with members of the clinical and administrative teams about their experiences so far. They heard first-hand how the service is already making a positive difference to patients, providing quicker access to essential tests and improving the overall care experience for local people.
Jonathan Wade, Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust Chief Executive, said: “The new North Kent CDC features the latest diagnostic technology and includes purpose-designed clinical spaces, modern imaging suites, and improved patient facilities designed for comfort and accessibility. Patients can access a range of diagnostic tests, including MRI, CT, ultrasound, X-ray, phlebotomy and cardiology investigations, all in one convenient community location. This approach helps shorten the pathway from test to treatment and ensures patients are seen in a calm, accessible environment rather than travelling to acute hospitals.”
Dr Tom Clark, Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust Chief Medical Officer, said: “The opening was a wonderful occasion; we welcomed partners, colleagues and community representatives and showed them around the new facility. We were able to tour the scanning suites, meet the clinical team and hear how the centre will benefit thousands of patients each year. We have been delighted with the positive feedback from our patients so far.”
Jackie Ducker, NHS Property Services Chief Customer Officer, said: “We are delighted to have supported the delivery of this fantastic new facility, which will provide a step-change in the quality and variety of care that our NHS colleagues are able to provide, improving access to diagnostic services for thousands of patients across the local community. We’re also proud to be delivering another project which is so clearly aligned with the Government’s key health priorities, to shift from hospital to neighbourhood health services and helping to deliver preventative healthcare, as part of the Ten Year Health Plan.”
Minister of State for Health, Karin Smyth, said: “The NHS should fit around patients’ lives, not the other way round, and this new Community Diagnostic Centre means the people of North Kent will be able to get checked more quickly, more conveniently, and closer to home.
“Thanks to this government’s investments and reforms, this state-of-the-art centre will offer services 12 hours a day, 7 days a week and they’re making a huge impact on our mission to cut the waiting lists nationally.
“Through our Plan for Change and working with NHS staff, we’re rebuilding our health service and making it fit for the future, by cutting waiting lists and making sure it’s easier for people to access the care they deserve.”
Jim Dickson, MP for Dartford, 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. This new facility will build greater capacity in our local healthcare system, ease pressure on hospital services, and help bring waiting lists down in Dartford. I look forward to seeing the benefits it delivers for our community.”
Community Diagnostic Centres are a central part of the national programme to increase diagnostic capacity across England and get more care closer to people’s homes. The North Kent CDC will play its part in delivering faster, more convenient testing for local people, reducing the need to travel to acute hospitals for routine scans and tests and helping to shorten the pathway from test to treatment.
