Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to (a) invest in diagnostic infrastructure and (b) reduce waiting times.

The Darzi Report highlights the significant underinvestment of capital in the National Health Service, with outdated scanners, too little automation, and a failure to enter the digital era. Patients have been let down for too long whilst they wait for the care they need, including diagnostic testing, which is key to the majority of elective and cancer pathways.

Currently, the elective waiting list stands at 7.48 million patient pathways, with over six million people waiting. The Elective Reform Plan, published in January 2025, sets out the reforms needed to return to the 18-week Referral to Treatment (RTT) constitutional standard by March 2029, a standard which has not been met consistently since September 2015. This will include ensuring the diagnostic capacity needed to deliver on the standard.

The Elective Reform Plan commits to transforming and expanding diagnostic services and speeding up waiting times for tests, a crucial part of reducing overall waiting times and returning to the RTT standard. This includes investment in Community Diagnostic Centres (CDCs), expanding the number of CDCs operating seven days a week and 12 hours a day, as well as the tests they offer. We will also develop and roll out Straight to Test pathways, reducing the time taken for patients to receive a test, as well further improvements to the NHS’ digital capabilities. An investment of approximately £1.5 billion, as announced in the Autumn Budget, will enable diagnostics services to build on these foundations in 2025/26, to ensure diagnostic services are fit for the future. This will ensure that patients receive the diagnostic care where and when they need it, including for subtype diagnoses.