Thousands more NHS checks, test and scans now offered out-of-hours

Thousands more NHS scans, tests and checks are now available out-of-hours to fit around patient's busy lives.

Health Secretary Wes Streeting said the services are allowing more people to have early morning MRI scans and blood tests in the evening. The Department of Health and Social Care said 100 Community Diagnostic Centres (CDC) are now opening in the evenings and on weekends.

They are separate from hospitals and often based on the high street, shopping centres, and university campuses across the country.

Mr Streeting said: “This government is determined to offer healthcare that fits around working people’s lives and not the other way around.

“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 Department of Health added that some 7.2 million CDC tests and scans have been delivered since July 2024 when Labour won power.

They said reaching the milestone of 100 centres now opening in the evenings and weekends means tens of thousands of patients will benefit in England.

At Oldham CDC in Greater Manchester, extended opening hours have cut lung cancer diagnosis times from 42 days to just 18.8 days, the government said. They added that some 7.2 million CDC tests and scans have been delivered since July 2024 when Labour won power.

Professor Meghana Pandit, NHS England National Medical Director, added: “We know people are living incredibly busy lives and its 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."

Laura Challinor from the Blood Cancer UK charity welcomed the move but said more must be done to tackle regional variation and speed up testing.

She said: "It's imperative that everyone affected by blood cancer can readily access the diagnostic tests and appointments they need.

"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."