More than six million tests, scans and health checks have taken place at community diagnostic centres (
Patients are referred to the diagnosit centres via their GP.
Healthcare staff use CT scanners, MRI scanners and other new diagnostic equipment to diagnose a range of health conditions, with early diagnosis and treatment key in preventing death and illness.
Dr Vin Diwakar, NHS Medical Director for Transformation, said: “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 – 2 million more than the previous 12 months, and almost 50 per cent 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.”
Meanwhile, new NHS data showing a rise in cancer checks across England has been labelled ‘misleading’ by experts.
Leading oncology Prof Pat Price, co-founder of the #CatchUpWithCancer campaign, said: “These figures are in danger of being just smoke and mirrors.
“The brutal reality is that we are in the worst cancer care crisis in my lifetime.
“We are continuing to miss all the key cancer targets by significant margins, month in, month out.”
