Vital Sheppey health centre celebrates official opening

The Sheppey Diagnostic Centre officially opens

A newly-completed Community Diagnostic Centre (CDC) has been formally opened at Sheppey Community Hospital, marking a further step in improving access to diagnostic tests for people on Isle of Sheppey, Sittingbourne, and surrounding areas, while also helping to free up capacity at Medway Maritime Hospital.

The centre, run by Medway NHS Foundation Trust, provides a range of vital CT, MRI, ultrasound and other diagnostic services for people closer to home in Swale. By reducing the need for patients to travel to Medway Maritime Hospital, it is helping to ease pressure on the main hospital site and improve access to timely tests. It forms part of the national programme to expand diagnostic capacity and improve early detection and treatment.

One of the first patients to benefit from services was Paul O’Connor, who visited the site for a CT scan in December 2024, while on his lunch break working from home. At the time, Paul explained how it was ”really easy to get to the centre’’ from his home in Minster, and the ease of ”parking straight away’’.

Patient Paul O'Connor cuts the ribbon (middle), with Jonathan Wade, Medway NHS Foundation Trust Interim Chief Executive (left), and Mike Billingham, Medway Town Crier (right)

A year on, Paul was a guest of honour at the formal opening, and helped cut the ribbon at the ceremony, alongside Kevin McKenna, MP for Sittingbourne and Sheppey, and Jonathan Wade, Medway NHS Foundation Trust Interim Chief Executive. The event was supported by Medway Town Crier and Trust Governor Mike Billingham, and other guests attended, including Swale Borough Council and Healthwatch representatives.

Since opening its doors with phase one (CT scanning) in December 2024, the Sheppey site has developed steadily, with phase two in spring 2025 introducing MRI, ultrasound and other important diagnostic services. In that time it has delivered close to 50,000 vital tests for patients, including more than 5,000 CT scans and 3,000 MRI scans. Patients have since spoken positively about shorter travel distances, calmer surroundings and quicker access to appointments.

Members of staff from the Sheppey Community Diagnostic Centre

Jonathan Wade, Interim Chief Executive, said: “The Sheppey CDC has quickly become an important part of our diagnostic services. The team has worked with real commitment to bring these facilities to Sheppey, and it is encouraging to see how patients are already benefiting, in their thousands. We look forward to seeing centre embed further as demand continues to grow.”

Lorraine Becconsall, Head of Imaging, said: “Our staff have shown dedication and pride in developing this centre. They’ve helped design the patient journeys, supported each other through training, and built a new service that is genuinely making a difference for local people in Swale. Every scan represents a person whose care can move forward more quickly, and that’s what encourages us each and every day.’’

Kevin McKenna, MP for Sittingbourne and Sheppey, said: “I was delighted to attend the formal opening ceremony for the Sheppey Community Diagnostic Centre. It is clear the centre is already making a real difference for local people by reducing waiting times, cutting down on travel, and easing pressure on Medway Maritime Hospital. The creation of this centre is a real boost for Sheppey and Sittingbourne, and I am grateful to everyone involved in bringing it to life and helping it grow, including all the staff from Medway NHS Foundation Trust who are at the heart of the services it provides.”

The Trust is continuing to expand its diagnostic offer across Medway and Swale, including through its Community Diagnostic Centre in Rochester, which first opened in August 2023 and delivers a similar range of important diagnostic tests closer to home for patients.

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