A multi-million-pound centre has opened to help thousands of patients get faster scans and a quicker diagnosis.

The new West Kent Community Diagnostic Centre is in Hermitage Court, near Maidstone Hospital.

Health Secretary Victoria Atkins opened the hub during a visit to Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust on Tuesday.

It forms part of a national scheme to speed up diagnostic tests following the pandemic.

The centre will allow patients to get quicker access to X-rays, and CT, MRI, DEXA and ultrasound scans.

Ms Atkins said: “It was a pleasure to officially open the West Kent Community Diagnostic Centre which will provide tests, checks and scans to around 149,000 people in its first year.

“This is the 141st CDC open across the country which is part of our plan to tackle waiting lists and reduce pressure on hospitals.”

Thousands of people living in the catchment areas of Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells and surrounding boroughs will benefit from the new development.

Trust chief executive Miles Scott said: “Waiting for tests can also be a worrying time for people and if their results are clear we can let them know more quickly.

“Across our Trust, 98% of patients need diagnostic tests and the sooner we can carry them out, the sooner we can start any treatment they may need.”

The Trust is one of the best performing in the country. It is one of the only ones in England to have no patients waiting more than 52 weeks for planned surgery.

Its emergency department is also regularly in the country’s top five list for its performance and has delivered the national cancer standard consistently for more than four years.