New data, published by the NHS shows that more than 1.14 million tests and scans have been delivered in North West Community Diagnostics Centres over the past 12 months.

The figures come as the Department of Health and Social care announced today that there are now 100 CDCs open in the evenings and weekends, providing thousands of vital diagnostics tests out of hours and in the community.

Across the North West, there are 16 CDCs providing a 12-hours a day, seven days a week service. Many of the CDCs in the region are based in local settings like shopping centres and community hospitals making accessing a range of diagnostic tests more convenient.

Clatterbridge Diagnostics, which was one of the first CDCs opened in England is a partnership between The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre and Wirral University Teaching Hospital, and is managed by Wirral University Teaching Hospital. Since opening in 2022, Clatterbridge diagnostics has helped the Cheshire and Merseyside system deliver tests, checks and scans to more than 1 million patients.

Elsewhere in the North West, Oldham CDC has slashed lung cancer diagnosis times from 42 days to just 18.8 days, meeting the Faster Diagnosis Standard for the first time.

Community diagnostic centres are a pivotal part of the government’s Plan for Change to transform care, moving it out of hospital and into the community. By speeding up diagnosis and treatment, government is reducing pressure on overwhelmed hospitals and putting patients at ease faster.

Dr Gareth Wallis, Medical Director for System Improvement and Professional Standards, for NHS England in the North West said: “Offering healthcare that fits around people’s lives, and making accessing tests and scans more convenient is an important part of making the NHS better for patients.

“Community diagnostics centres have become an essential part of the health system in the North West; delivering more tests, more quickly, in more convenient locations.

“The growth in numbers of diagnostic tests being delivered to patients across the region is testament to the hard work, dedication and innovation of staff across the North West. This work is helping us diagnose conditions earlier, improve outcomes, and reduce pressure on our hospitals, making a real difference in the lives of patients across the region.”

Patients can be referred to community diagnostic centres via their GP or hospital based clinical teams. The NHS is also making it easier for GPs to refer directly to CDCs via schemes like GP Direct Access, and developing more activity involving CDCs, so patients can have their diagnostic test ahead of meeting their consultant, reducing the number of outpatient appointments they need to attend.

The Plan for Change sets out how government is doing things differently to transform the NHS. By moving care out of hospitals into communities, embracing cutting-edge technology, and redesigning services around patients’ needs the government reforms are creating a more accessible, efficient NHS that works for working people.

The plan is backed by over £6 billion of additional capital investment to improve capacity for elective, diagnostic, and urgent care services over five years—with over £600 million capital funding committed for 2025/26 to transform diagnostic services amidst growing demands. This includes funding up to 5 additional CDCs in 2025/26, as committed to in our Elective Reform Plan, alongside extending opening hours for all CDCs at evenings and on weekends.