Nearly £43 million invested in East Midlands diagnostic centres to boost scans and tests

Nearly £43 million is being invested in Community Diagnostic Centres across the East Midlands as part of efforts to provide patients with faster access to scans, tests and other diagnostic services.

The investment will support the development of one new Community Diagnostic Centre, alongside the expansion of two existing centres and additional support for three other sites across the region. The programme is intended to increase diagnostic capacity and make it easier for patients to access tests outside traditional acute hospital settings.

Community Diagnostic Centres were introduced to provide services such as imaging, physiological measurements and other diagnostic tests in more convenient community locations. By separating some routine diagnostic activity from busy hospitals, the centres can provide additional capacity while helping patients receive investigations closer to home.

Faster access to diagnostic testing is particularly important for conditions where early identification can significantly influence treatment and outcomes. Scans and tests are a crucial part of pathways ranging from cancer and cardiovascular disease to respiratory and other long-term conditions, meaning delays in diagnostics can have consequences throughout the wider health system.

The East Midlands investment will allow existing facilities to increase the amount of diagnostic activity they can undertake while adding further capacity through the new centre. Supporting additional sites should also help spread provision across the region and give more patients access to services within their local communities.

Community Diagnostic Centres form part of the NHS’s wider approach to reducing waiting times and tackling diagnostic backlogs. Increasing the number of tests that can be carried out away from acute hospitals can also free hospital capacity for patients who require more complex or specialist care.

The nearly £43 million commitment represents a significant expansion of diagnostic infrastructure across the East Midlands, with the additional capacity aimed at helping patients move more quickly from referral and investigation to diagnosis and, where necessary, treatment.

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