The NHS said patients have benefited from more than 7 million tests, checks and scans at community diagnostic centres (CDCs) across the country.

They said this helps to speed up diagnoses and treatments at 155 centres now open in England, with AI scanners on the way to further bolster diagnostic offers.

CDCs, in settings like shopping centres and university campuses, allows the NHS to identify and treat illnesses in quicker time and closer to home, further helping reduce pressure on hospitals and allow for a speedier diagnosis so patients receive potentially life-saving care sooner.

The government aims to deliver 17 million tests across CDCs and its other investments in diagnostic capacity by March 2025.

Health minister Andrew Stephenson said: "Diagnostic centres are playing a vital role in helping to cut waiting lists by delivering checks and scans to people who need them, helping reduce pressures faced by hospitals across the country.

"This is a key part of our long term plan to make the NHS faster, simpler and fairer for patients."

Patients can be referred to CDCs via their GP, or acute consultant, and healthcare staff use CT scanners, MRI scanners and other new diagnostic equipment to diagnose a range of health conditions. Early diagnosis and treatment are key in preventing death and illness.