More than six million tests, scans and health checks have taken place at community diagnostic centres (CDCs) across the country, helping speed up diagnoses and treatments for NHS patients, including one in Milton Keynes.
A total of 6.1 million checks were carried out at CDCs as of November 2023, since they were first introduced in July 2021. Last year, local MPs Ben Everitt and Iain Stewart secured two Community Diagnostic Centres in the city, one in Whitehouse which has already opened, and another in Central Milton Keynes.
They offer patients a wide range of diagnostic tests closer to home and greater choice on where and how they are treated, reducing the need for hospital visits and helping them to receive potentially life-saving care sooner.
Ben Everitt, the MP for Milton Keynes North, said: "I'm delighted to see Community Diagnostic Centres are already having a big impact on improving healthcare across the country, and right here in Milton Keynes.
"Our new Community Diagnostic Centre in Whitehouse is helping to deliver an extra 52,550 tests, checks and scans a year making sure patients can get a diagnosis and care as soon as possible."
Health and Social Care Secretary, Victoria Atkins, said: "The government’s £2.3 billion Community Diagnostic Centre programme is the largest investment in MRI and CT scanning capacity in the history of the NHS. Placing high-tech equipment in places like shopping centres and near football stadiums makes it simpler for patients to get the care they need, as quickly as possible.
"We have now opened 141 community diagnostic centres across England, with more to come, and they are playing a vital role in faster diagnosis of illnesses like cancer and heart disease."
Patients are referred to CDCs via their GP. Healthcare staff use CT scanners, MRI scanners and other new diagnostic equipment to diagnose a range of health conditions. Early diagnosis and treatment are key in preventing death and illness.
The programme, backed by £2.3 billion, constitutes the largest central cash investment in MRI and CT scanning capacity in the history of the NHS and we are on track to meet our target to open 160 CDCs by March 2025, with many due to open ahead of schedule.
Dr Vin Diwakar, NHS Medical Director for Transformation, added: "Thanks to the hard work of staff, latest data shows the NHS has delivered a record 25.9 million tests and checks over the past year - two million more than the previous 12 months, and almost 50% more than a decade ago - helping ensure patients get the all-clear or diagnosis, so they can be treated for a range of conditions as quickly as possible.
"Millions of these tests have been performed at one of our 141 ‘one stop shops’ open across the country, situated in locations most convenient for patients, so I would encourage anyone with a health concern to come forward and get checked – it could save your life."
As a result of the success of the CDC programme and the wider measures outlined in the Elective Recovery Plan, the government met its target to virtually eliminate waits of over two years and has cut 18-month waits by over 90% from the peak in September 2021.
In November, the government also provided £800 million – a combination of reprioritised and new funding – to mitigate the impact of industrial action.
It is also maximising independent sector capacity reduce waiting times for NHS patients. A number of the CDCs are run by the independent sector but available to NHS patients as part of the programme.
