Private MRI facilities to open at Bluewater shopping centre next year
Construction is underway on a private medical facility located in the car park of Kent’s biggest shopping centre
Construction is underway on a private medical facility located in the car park of Kent’s biggest shopping centre in Greenhithe.
The centre at Bluewater Shopping Centre will be run by Grove Radiology and include MRI and ultrasound facilities.
It will offer pre-booked appointments to around twenty patients a day.
Grove Radiology applied for permission to place the facilities there for five years until the end of 2030.
A spokesperson for Grove Radiology says:
“We aim to have the ultrasound unit operational and begin services in January, with the MRI unit following shortly thereafter" explains a spokesperson for the radiology company".
“We are very excited about this project and believe it will significantly enhance healthcare accessibility in the area.”
The radiology company asked Dartford council for planning permission in July, to install two temporary mobile units in the Red outer car park of the shopping centre.
Their plans cover "a total of 12 car parking spaces, all of which will be temporarily lost to accommodate the proposals."
The firm proposes that the facility will be open 8am – 6pm Monday-Saturday.
No walk-ins will be allowed, with only pre-booked appointments undertaken.
Four staff will be required, two for each unit.
It is not certain whether the new facilities will end up being used by the NHS.
Grove Radiology's plans stressed it is “open to discussions” with local NHS providers should “opportunities” arise for “partnership or support”.
Grove Radiology includes some professionals who do work with the NHS.
Permission was granted for the facilities by Dartford council in August.