Louie French MP's latest column in the News Shopper.
Securing more services at Queen Mary's Hospital has been my number one priority since I was first elected to Parliament four years ago. It's personal for me. As our area's first homegrown MP, this is also my local hospital, which has treated me, my family, and friends. That's why I want it to succeed — I know how important it is to have high-quality healthcare services right here on our doorstep in Sidcup.
But it's also because I wanted to build on my predecessor's legacy. The late James Brokenshire MP fought to keep the hospital open, and his tireless efforts and dedication ultimately paid off. Queen Mary's Hospital is not only still open, but it is thriving today. Over the last decade, we've seen the Guy's Cancer Centre open, a new Kidney Treatment Centre established, and more operating theatres open at Sidcup.
But there's more to do. Still too often patients living in Sidcup, Old Bexley and Welling are sent far away for tests. No one wants to travel far when you are unwell, let alone struggling with mobility or serious illness. Delivering more diagnostic tests locally would not only make life easier for patients but also help tackle NHS waiting lists and potentially save lives by diagnosing problems earlier.
That's why I fought so hard to secure £9.6 million in funding for a Community Diagnostic Centre at Queen Mary's Hospital, and I'm delighted to say it opened its doors to local patients in July. The state-of-the-art centre in Sidcup was completed in under two years and is one of twelve centres funded by the previous Conservative government in London.
This is a significant addition to Queen Mary's Hospital, meaning the NHS now has the building and equipment to carry out tens of thousands more diagnostic tests locally. It will also mean that, should you and your family require tests in the future, you will hopefully not have to travel so far to get the medical care you need.
However, the job is not yet done. While the facility has the capacity to deliver more than 50,000 diagnostic tests per year, it will currently be open only two days a week, offering select MRI and ultrasound services. This is because the Labour government slashed funding for diagnostic services, meaning Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust cannot afford to fully open the facility yet.
Under the previous Conservative government, Community Diagnostic Centres were awarded funding to help cover the cost of establishing and running new facilities. However, in January 2025, Labour cut payments for MRI, CT and ultrasound scans by up to a third, meaning fewer tests can now be performed here in Sidcup despite the excellent facilities.
With too many people stuck on NHS waiting lists, it's unacceptable that this facility will be sitting idle for most of the week when it could be treating many more patients. I'll be campaigning to restore much-needed funding so we can expand these diagnostic services. If the Labour government is serious about reducing NHS waiting lists, it needs to fund Community Diagnostic Centres.
