Work has begun on a third community diagnostic centre (CDC) in North-West London that will open in early 2024.

The £30m project, which will be situated on the Ealing Hospital site, will provide rapid access to diagnostic tests, such as CT, MRI, and ultrasound scans, for thousands of patients.

Ealing Hospital is part of the London North West University Healthcare NHS Trust.

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The centres are part of a government-funded national network established to address the patient backlog that accumulated during the pandemic.

The Ealing CDC's primary focus will be on four "priority pathways," specifically addressing symptoms like asthma, breathlessness, as well as back and chest pain.

Pippa Nightingale, CEO at LNWH Trust, said: "The earlier you detect a condition like cancer the better, so these diagnostic centres are an important addition to our healthcare services."

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"They also help ease pressure on existing hospital services by allowing GPs to make direct referrals. This is a great investment on our hospital site and reflects our long-term commitment to Ealing."

The new facility will largely utilise existing hospital space along with its own entrance and is expected to open in early 2024.

A CDC is currently operational in Willesden, and another one is set to open in Wembley at the end of the year.