PEOPLE across the South East are benefitting from faster access to lifesaving tests and scans as the NHS continues to expand its network of Community Diagnostic Centres (CDCs).
It comes after after £237m of funding was announced nationally for upgrades and expansions to new and existing CDCs across the country.
It means the region now has the highest number of CDCs per head of population in the country, with 31 CDCs open across the South East.
A growing number are open 12 hours a day, seven days a week, helping thousands of patients receive checks more quickly and making it easier for people to attend appointments around work and family commitments.
Slough CDC and Redhill CDC are already increasing diagnostic capacity and reducing pressure on local hospitals as the NHS works to shift more care into the community and away from acute hospital sites.
The new Slough CDC, a £25 million facility opened fully in March and will deliver up to 150,000 additional tests each year, including CT, MRI, ultrasound, X‑ray, lung function and blood tests.
The centre operates seven days a week and is easing pressure on Wexham Park Hospital while supporting GPs to diagnose and treat patients sooner.
The 36 centres, backed by a £237 million government investment, are aimed at boosting NHS diagnostic capacity and deliver more care in local communities.
In 2025, the NHS in England carried out a record number of key diagnostic tests – almost 30 million – and has carried out an additional 3.5 million tests in the 18 months following July 2024, compared to the 18 months prior.
Dr Christopher Tibbs, Medical Director the NHS in the South East, said: “Community Diagnostic Centres are transforming the way people across the South East access vital tests and checks.
“By bringing modern diagnostic services into local communities, we are reducing waiting times, easing pressure on hospitals and helping patients get answers sooner.
“The new centres in Slough and Redhill are just two of the most recent CDCs that are already making a real difference for local residents, and they form an important part of our wider work to improve early diagnosis and support better outcomes for patients across the region.”
