Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that Community Diagnostic Centres are adequately staffed without removing hospital employees from areas such as acute patient care.

In April 2026, the Government announced our plan to open four new community diagnostic centres (CDCs) during 2026/27. We also announced a further 32 centres, which will be expanded and improved with new scanning equipment, outpatient clinic space and additional testing facilities. The 36 centres, backed by a £237 million Government investment, will significantly boost National Health Service diagnostic capacity and deliver more care in local communities.

All CDCs have been funded to purchase and install the equipment that is specific to each CDC’s individual requirements, including magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography scanners. Business cases for equipment are approved nationally, and each case is reviewed to ensure that it meets the expected standards to deliver clinical pathways and meet the needs of the local population. Local equipment procurement is coordinated through the NHS Supply Chain to ensure value for money.

Staffing models are determined locally by each host organisation for the CDC. Many trusts operate on a rotational model between the acute site and the CDC to ensure that acute care remains adequately staffed whilst supporting the opportunity for staff to train in a controlled elective environment. To further support staff recruitment and retention, NHS England funds practice educator posts across the clinical services delivered in CDCs. These posts support the preceptorship of newly qualified staff and provide undergraduate and postgraduate clinical support to clinical trainees.

Funding is currently available to install digital infrastructure to ensure that patient information, images, and reports flow seamlessly from CDCs to the rest of the healthcare system. NHS England is rolling out a National Imaging Registry, which will allow clinicians across England, including in CDCs, to access current and historic patient scans and reports, reducing the need to repeat scans if the patient presents in a different location.