Community diagnostic centres (CDCs), in settings like shopping centres and university campuses have helped reduce pressure on hospitals by helping to identify and treat illnesses faster, so patients receive potentially life-saving care sooner and can be seen closer to home.
Chancellor Jeremy Hunt announced further investment in the sector, promising 100 new AI-fitted MRI scanners that will help doctors deliver results more quickly and accurately to 130,000 patients every year.
These new AI-fitted MRI scanners will be funded through the landmark £4.2bn Public Sector Productivity Plan, under which the NHS will be given £3.4bn to double its investment in digital transformation, including IT upgrades and AI investment.
Health Minister Andrew Stephenson said: “Diagnostic centres are playing a vital role in helping to cut waiting lists by delivering checks and scans to people who need them, helping reduce pressures faced by hospitals across the country.”
One hundred and fifty-five centres are currently open in England, with the government on track to meet its target to open 160 by March 2025
“This is a key part of our long term plan to make the NHS faster, simpler and fairer for patients. There are now 155 CDCs open across the country, which play a crucial role in faster diagnosis for illnesses such as cancer and heart disease,” Stephenson concluded.
Since its inception in July 2021, the CDC programme has delivered 7m CDC tests, checks and scans, which is backed by £2.3bn, constituting the largest cash investment in MRI and CT scanning capacity in the history of the NHS.
One hundred and fifty-five centres are currently open in England, with the government on track to meet its target to open 160 by March 2025.
Patients can be referred to CDCs via their GP, or acute consultant, and healthcare staff use CT scanners, MRI scanners and other new diagnostic equipment to diagnose a range of health conditions.
