Extending opening hours for CDCs is opening up access and speeding up diagnosis for patients all around the country. For example, 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. Queen Victoria Hospital CDC in East Grinstead now delivers five times more respiratory patient interactions per session, with 92% avoiding hospital outpatient appointments entirely. 

Health and social care secretary, Wes 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. 

‘Our 10-Year Health Plan is revolutionising how healthcare works, and this achievement is a vital step in bringing care closer to community. Delivering on our Plan for Change, we're building an NHS that's fit for the future.'

Professor Meghana Pandit, NHS England national medical director, said: ‘We know people are living incredibly busy lives and it's 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.'

Wayne Rowlands who visited the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital (NNUH) Community Diagnostic Centre for an emergency CT scan, said: ‘I came here for the scan and everything went very smoothly. It was such a pleasant experience. Absolutely brilliant. It's very bright and not at all like a hospital. 

‘The staff have all been absolutely brilliant as well. This is something really quite special that we have here.'