Patients across England are seeing a dramatic shift in how and when they can access crucial health checks, tests, and scans, thanks to a sweeping expansion of Community Diagnostic Centres (CDCs) that now operate 12 hours a day, seven days a week. Announced by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), this move is reshaping the landscape of NHS diagnostics, making it easier for people to fit vital medical appointments around their busy lives—whether that means an early morning MRI before the school run or a late evening blood test after a long shift.
These CDCs, now numbering 100 across the country as of August 17, 2025, are strategically located in shopping centres, community hospitals, and university campuses, bringing services closer to people’s homes and away from the traditional hospital setting. According to the DHSC, the centres have already delivered an impressive 7.2 million tests and scans since July 2024, a figure that underscores both their popularity and their growing role in the NHS’s strategy to modernize healthcare delivery.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting was unequivocal about the government’s ambitions. “This government is determined to offer healthcare that fits around working people’s lives and not the other way around,” Streeting said, as reported by BBC and The Guardian. “From early morning MRI scans to late evening blood tests, we’re meeting patients where they need it most by extending the operating hours for community diagnostic centres and putting patients first.”
The impact of these extended hours is already being felt on the ground. At Oldham CDC in Greater Manchester, for example, the time to diagnose lung cancer has plummeted from 42 days to just 18.8 days—a change that could mean the difference between life and death for many patients. Meanwhile, the Queen Victoria Hospital CDC in East Grinstead, West Sussex, has seen a fivefold increase in respiratory patient interactions per session, with a remarkable 92% of those patients avoiding the need for a hospital outpatient appointment altogether. These are not just statistics; they represent real lives changed, and in some cases, saved.
The numbers back up these anecdotes. Between July 2024 and June 2025, the NHS delivered more than 1.6 million additional tests and scans compared to the previous year. During that same period, 218,463 people had cancer either diagnosed or ruled out within 28 days, with nearly 97,000 more people benefiting from faster diagnosis compared to the year before. According to NHS England, this improved performance on the faster diagnosis standard is a direct result of the expanded capacity and accessibility provided by the CDCs.
Professor Meghana Pandit, NHS England’s national medical director, emphasized the importance of this new approach in a statement carried by multiple outlets, including ITV News and The Independent. “We know people are living incredibly busy lives and it’s vital NHS care reflects that. The services provided by Community Diagnostics Centres enable people to receive the all-clear or a diagnosis at a time and location that suits them, whether before a school drop off or after a work shift, and extending their opening hours means more people are being seen more quickly.”
Patients can be referred to CDCs through their GP or hospital-based clinical teams, ensuring that the pathway to diagnosis is as streamlined as possible. The range of tests on offer is broad, including MRI and CT scans, echocardiography, and phlebotomy services, among others. This comprehensive approach is designed to catch a wide variety of health issues early, when they are most treatable.
Wayne Rowlands, a patient who recently visited the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital Community Diagnostic Centre for an emergency CT scan, described his experience in glowing terms. “It was a pleasant experience,” Rowlands said, as quoted by Sky News. “The setting was very bright and not at all like a hospital.” Such feedback highlights one of the less tangible but equally important benefits of the CDCs: reducing the anxiety and discomfort often associated with hospital visits.
The government’s ambitious plan is backed by a significant financial commitment—over £6 billion in additional capital investment over five years, with more than £600 million earmarked for 2025/26 alone. According to the DHSC, this funding will not only support the continued operation and extension of existing CDCs but will also pay for up to five new centres in the next financial year. The focus is firmly on improving capacity for elective, diagnostic, and urgent care services, as well as extending opening hours for all CDCs during evenings and weekends.
Of course, while the expansion has been widely welcomed, some voices are urging caution and calling for further action. Laura Challinor from the charity Blood Cancer UK praised the move but highlighted the need to address persistent regional disparities and to accelerate the pace of testing. “It’s imperative that everyone affected by blood cancer can readily access the diagnostic tests and appointments they need,” Challinor said, as reported by The Mirror. “With blood cancer being the UK’s third biggest cancer killer and survival lagging behind countries of similar wealth and health, doing all we can to turn that tide is critical.”
This concern about regional variation is echoed by many in the health sector, who point out that while the new CDCs are a step forward, access can still be uneven depending on where a patient lives. The government has acknowledged this challenge and says that future investment will target areas with the greatest need, but charities and patient groups will be watching closely to ensure these promises are kept.
The broader context for these changes is the government’s 10-year health plan, which aims to revolutionize how healthcare works in England by bringing services closer to the community and making them more responsive to the needs of modern life. As Health Secretary Streeting put it, “the measures are helping to bring care closer to the community,” a sentiment echoed by NHS leaders and patient advocates alike.
For now, the early results are encouraging. Tens of thousands of patients are already benefiting from the convenience and speed offered by the CDCs, and the NHS appears to be on track to deliver even more improvements in the months and years ahead. There’s still work to be done—especially when it comes to ensuring equal access for all—but the expansion of out-of-hours diagnostic services marks a significant and positive shift in the way healthcare is delivered in England.
