Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of changes to treatment tariffs on the ability of Community Diagnostic Centres to provide care.

As set out in the Plan for Change, we will ensure that 92% of patients return to waiting no longer than 18 weeks from Referral to Treatment by March 2029, a standard which has not been met consistently since September 2015.

We have delivered an additional two million appointments between July and November 2024 compared to the same period in 2023, seven months ahead of schedule. This includes operations, consultations, diagnostic tests, and treatments such as chemotherapy, radiotherapy and endoscopy.

The consultation on proposals for the 2025/26 NHS Payment Scheme closed on 28 February 2025. NHS England is currently reviewing the feedback received, including the aligned payment and incentive mechanism for community diagnostic centres (CDCs). NHS England will confirm decisions about the final scheme as soon as possible.

Diagnostic activity continues to be undertaken in non-CDC settings, as well as in CDCs. As set out in the consultation, NHS England has proposed that the same payment approach is used for all diagnostic activity to ensure that the payment system is not a barrier to delivery.