Community diagnostic centres could become a financial “burden” on providers without extra funding and changes to how tests are paid for, the programme’s architect has warned in an internal review obtained by HSJ.
The NHS England review, led by Sir Mike Richards, follows ministers making community diagnostic centres a central plank of their elective recovery plan and mission to shift care into the community.
The review concluded prices for some imaging tests are making significant amounts of CDC work loss-making – and says additional central funding over “multiple years” is required.
It also called for CDCs to be rebranded and a major publicity campaign to address “low level[s] of awareness and understanding” among clinicians and the public about what they do. It also highlighted substantial digital challenges.
The report declared the programme has “successfully” established 170 operational CDCs “delivering more than 20 million tests, primarily in new community settings”. But it also warned more funding and national directives are needed to “fully utilise” the centres.
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Source: HSJ, 5 May 2026
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