Plans for a new community diagnostic centre (CDC) at Barking Community Hospital (BCH) were given the go-ahead following a majority vote by Barking and Dagenham’s Planning Committee.
It is hoped that the CDC will provide more tests and scans for North East London residents and will facilitate easier access to services for people living in Barking and Dagenham.
The site was chosen to meet growing demand in the area, with the hope of reducing health inequalities, reducing travel times for local people and providing an improved patient experience. Demographics from the local area suggest that the population is set to increase significantly over the next 20-30 years, and as such the demand for diagnostics is also expected to rise by 21 percent.
The CDC is to provide access to a range of services including MRI, CT, ultrasound, x-ray and ophthalmology, with consultation rooms for further tests.
The hospital is employing the Modern Method of Construction during the building period to ensure minimal disruption for the public and to increase the build time.
Director of strategy and partnerships, Ann Hepworth, said: “I’m delighted that the Planning Committee endorsed our plans. It demonstrates a genuine commitment from us as a Trust, together with our Local Authority colleagues, to improving care and access to services for local people.”
Feedback with residents and stakeholders has been ongoing throughout the process to ensure the CDC best reflects the needs of the community it is serving. This sustained engagement is available to read on the proposed design of the CDC which can be found in their latest report.
