- The Health Secretary announced a £237 million investment to establish new and improve existing community diagnostic centres (CDCs) across England.
- This funding aims to ensure timely cancer diagnoses and facilitate patient checks closer to home, with the Health Secretary stating that early diagnosis "shouldn't be a question of luck."
- The investment will lead to four new CDCs opening in Gorton, Luton, Boston, and Bideford by 2026/27, alongside the expansion of 17 and enhancement of 15 existing centres.
- The new CDCs are described as part of the "biggest expansion in NHS diagnostics in a generation," designed to make healthcare more accessible and convenient for patients.
- The announcement comes as the NHS missed its target for diagnosing or ruling out suspected cancer within 28 days in January, achieving 72.8 per cent against a 75 per cent goal.
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